Asian Games 2026: Indian women’s cricket team beats Sri Lanka to win first gold in Aichi-Nagoya
The Indian women's cricket team has secured the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023 by delivering a dominant performance against Sri Lanka in the final, winning by a record-breaking 147 runs
The Indian women's cricket team has secured the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023 by delivering a dominant performance against Sri Lanka in the final, winning by a record-breaking 147 runs. India's batting lineup, led by Smriti Mandhana's 79 runs, posted a formidable total of 217, setting a challenging target for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan team struggled to cope with the pressure and the bowling attack, ultimately being bowled out for just 69 runs. Key contributions from Indian bowlers Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma were instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka's chase. This victory solidifies India's continental dominance in women's cricket and adds another gold medal to their Asian Games campaign.
The Indian women's cricket team has secured the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023 by delivering a dominant performance against Sri Lanka in the final, winning by a record-breaking 147 runs. India's batting lineup, led by Smriti Mandhana's 79 runs, posted a formidable total of 217, setting a challenging target for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan team struggled to cope with the pressure and the bowling attack, ultimately being bowled out for just 69 runs. Key contributions from Indian bowlers Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma were instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka's chase. This victory solidifies India's continental dominance in women's cricket and adds another gold medal to their Asian Games campaign.
The Indian women's cricket team has secured the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023 by delivering a dominant performance against Sri Lanka in the final, winning by a record-breaking 147 runs. India's batting lineup, led by Smriti Mandhana's 79 runs, posted a formidable total of 217, setting a challenging target for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan team struggled to cope with the pressure and the bowling attack, ultimately being bowled out for just 69 runs. Key contributions from Indian bowlers Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma were instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka's chase. This victory solidifies India's continental dominance in women's cricket and adds another gold medal to their Asian Games campaign.
The Indian women's cricket team reasserted its continental dominance by defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Karogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi, on Tuesday.
The victory margin in the game was the highest ever in all of women’s T20Is. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side's win came after a batting performance that left Sri Lanka chasing a record target of 217.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat first.
Smriti Mandhana was regal as ever in her 79 off 45, before Shefali contributed 48 off 29. Ghosh then took over to give 49 off 22 deliveries, taking India beyond the 200-run mark, which gave the team a solid platform to clinch the gold.
Sri Lanka’s skipper Chamari Athapaththu scored 29 off 21, but they kept losing wickets. Sri Lanka capitulated to 69 all out in 15.4 overs as Indian spinners ran through their batters.
Shafali Verma (48 and 2/3) produced an all-round performance while Deepti Sharma (3/6) and Shree Charani (2) chipped in with wickets as usual in a final devoid of a contest.
India now has two women’s cricket golds at the Asian Games. They previously won gold in 2023.
The Indian men’s cricket team will now be expected to defend the gold at the Games on September 28.
Sri Lanka settled for the silver medal while Pakistan bagged the bronze after beating Bangladesh in the third-place play-off. Pakistan won the bronze with a comfortable 31-run win over Bangladesh earlier in the day.
Cricket was first featured at the sporting event in 2010. However, India only began participating in the 2023 games held in Hangzhou, China.
The first two days of the sporting event gave India four silvers and two bronzes, five of them accounted for in shooting.
With inputs from PTI