India secured a dominant 114‑run victory over Bangladesh in the women’s cricket semifinal of the 2026 Asian Games, booking a place in the tournament final where they will meet Sri Lanka. The Indian side posted a formidable total of 195 for four wickets in their allotted 20 overs, while Bangladesh could only muster 81 for eight wickets before the innings concluded in the 15th over.
India’s explosive chase set the tone
Opening the innings, India’s top order laid a solid foundation. After a modest start, Shafali Verma accelerated the scoring rate, reaching her half‑century at the 10‑over mark. A six off a left‑arm spinner from Bangladesh’s Nahida Akter brought her to the fifty‑run milestone. Verma continued her on‑fire display, adding boundaries and quick singles to push the total beyond the 100‑run mark. By the 11th over, she had already struck a six that took her into the 90s, and a single off the final ball of the innings saw her cross the hundred‑run threshold.
Her hundred made her only the third Indian player to score a WT20I century. The innings concluded at 195 for four, with contributions from other batters including a quick 27 from Dilara Akter, who was caught by Patil off DB Sharma, and a brief cameo from Meghla, who added 3 runs before being dismissed.
Key bowling figures for Bangladesh included a quick wicket by Marufa Akter, who dismissed Richa Ghosh for just two runs, and a disciplined spell from Sultana Khatun, who bowled a tight over that yielded only a single run. However, the overall impact of Bangladesh’s bowlers was limited as India kept the run rate high throughout the innings.
Bangladesh’s chase falters under Indian pressure
Bangladesh began their chase with an opening partnership of Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. The early overs saw a mixture of singles and a six from Dilara, but the momentum shifted when India’s left‑arm spinner, DB Sharma, struck early, removing Marufa Akter lbw for five runs. Subsequent overs featured a series of wickets: Sanjida Akter was caught at long on, and later, Nahida Akter fell to a catch and bowled by NSS Sharma.
Bangladesh’s middle order struggled to build partnerships. Shreyanka Patil and Shorna Akter managed a few boundaries, but both were dismissed in quick succession—Shorna caught by Harmanpreet Kaur and Shreyanka later bowled. The Indian bowlers, particularly DB Sharma and NSS Sharma, kept the run flow tight, delivering a mix of dot balls, wides, and occasional boundaries that prevented Bangladesh from gaining any substantial momentum.
By the end of the 12th over, Bangladesh were 56 for seven, with wickets falling at regular intervals. The final wicket fell in the 15th over, leaving the score at 81 for eight. The decisive collapse underscored the effectiveness of India’s bowling attack, which combined disciplined line and length with aggressive wicket‑taking, especially from the left‑arm spinner DB Sharma.
Key performances and match statistics
Shafali Verma’s century was the headline performance, making her the third Indian to achieve a WT20I hundred. Her innings featured a blend of powerful sixes and well‑timed fours, propelling India to a total that proved insurmountable for Bangladesh.
Other notable contributions came from Harmanpreet Kaur, who added a quick 40 runs off 33 balls, hitting six fours before being stumped. On the bowling side, DB Sharma claimed three wickets, including the crucial early wicket of Marufa Akter, while NSS Sharma also took two wickets, dismissing both Nahida and Rabeya Khan.
Bangladesh’s top scorer, Dilara Akter, managed 27 runs off 23 balls, hitting four fours and a six before being caught. The team’s highest partnership was an opening stand that yielded 19 runs, but subsequent wickets prevented any meaningful recovery.
The final margin of 114 runs highlighted the gap between the two sides on the day. India’s comprehensive performance, both with bat and ball, ensured a spot in the gold‑medal match, while Bangladesh will look to regroup after a disappointing outing.
With the final now set against Sri Lanka, India will aim to maintain the momentum generated by Verma’s landmark innings and the collective effort of the side throughout the semifinal.
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