Nisshin, September 18: India’s women cricket team eased into the Asian Games 2026 semi-finals with an eight-wicket win over hosts Japan at the Korogi Sports Park, chasing down a modest target inside five overs.
Put in to bat, Japan were bowled out for 57 in 19.5 overs. Sree Charani was the pick of the India bowlers with 4 for 10 in four overs, her best figures in T20 cricket, while Shafali Verma took two wickets. Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil picked up one wicket each. Ayaka Kato-Stafford top-scored for Japan with 25 off 47 balls.
Verma finishes it inside five overs
India lost Gunalan Kamalini for a duck, but the target never looked in doubt with Shafali Verma in the mood. She raced to 40 not out off 15 balls, with four boundaries, and sealed the win by launching Japan’s Shimako Kato over long-on for six. India finished on 59 for two in five overs, with 90 balls to spare, and Richa Ghosh was unbeaten on 12 off six balls at the other end.
India, the defending Asian Games champions, will face Bangladesh in the semi-final on Sunday, September 20. Pakistan meet Sri Lanka in the other semi-final.
