India, Sri Lanka set for Asian Games women's Gold clash

Clinical India sealed their spot in the women’s Asian Games Finals with a dominant 114-run victory over Bangladesh. They will face Sri Lanka in the final, with Sri Lanka having earlier secured their place in the title clash with a win over Pakistan.

India won the toss and opted to bat, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma producing a masterclass in power-hitting.

The pair powered India to 72/1 in the powerplay with a stunning display of aggressive batting. Mandhana smashed 37 off 19 balls, becoming the highest run-scorer in women’s T20I cricket in the process, before being dismissed by Nahida Akter off the final ball of the powerplay.

G Kamalini was dismissed soon after by Sanjida Akter Meghla, but Shafali Verma continued the momentum alongside Harmanpreet Kaur. The pair stitched together a 94-run partnership off just 55 balls.

Shafali brought up her fifty in just 24 balls in style, reaching the milestone with a six. She did not slow down, continuing her onslaught as she brought up her maiden T20I century off just 49 balls. Her century was laced with three fours and nine sixes, while Harmanpreet chipped in with 40 off 33 balls as India finished on 195/4.

India’s bowlers were on the front foot from the outset, never allowing Bangladesh to settle into the chase. Nandani Sharma struck in the second over, removing Juairiya Ferdous, before Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani added to the pressure by picking up the key wickets of Sobhana Mostary and Nigar Sultana.

Bangladesh were reduced to 39/3 at the end of the powerplay as India maintained their grip on the contest.

India kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals, never allowing the Bangladesh batters to settle in. Dilara Akter provided the biggest resistance for Bangladesh, top-scoring with 27 off 23 balls, but the Indian bowling attack ultimately proved too difficult to counter.

India bowled Bangladesh out for 81 in 15.4 overs to seal a comprehensive victory and punch their ticket to the final. Nandani Sharma (3/25), Deepti Sharma (3/7) and Sree Charani (2/7) were the standout performers with the ball for India, while Kranti Gaud and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with a wicket each.

In the earlier tussle in Nisshin, Sri Lanka put Pakistan in to bat after winning the toss. Sugandika Kumari (1/31) struck on the very first delivery of the game, bowling Gull Feroza to give the island nation a dream start.

Pakistan lost another wicket in the powerplay when skipper Chamari Athapaththu (1/30) and Harshitha Samarawickrama combined to remove Saira Jabeen.

Opener Shawaal Zulfiqar (54 off 50 balls) and Ayesha Zafar (71 off 40 balls) then got together to stitch a record 115-run partnership, Pakistan's highest for the third wicket in this format.

A run-out saw the back of Zafar, and Zulfiqar fell soon after. However, Fatima Sana's brisk 20 off 12 deliveries helped Pakistan post 177/4 in their 20 overs, their highest-ever total against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka equalled their highest total in a successful chase, powered by skipper Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 83 off 50 balls, to book a spot in the Asian Games women's cricket gold medal match.

Opener Imesha Dulani (27 off 21 deliveries) set the tone early, allowing Athapaththu to settle in. The momentum shifted in the eighth over when the Sri Lankan skipper took Momina Riasat to the cleaners, smacking 20 runs, including two sixes and as many boundaries.

Hasini Perera then matched her captain's scoring rate with a crisp 42 off 26 deliveries, before getting dimissed by Nashra Sundhu, bringing the equation down to 47 runs required off 36 balls. Samarawickrama and Athapaththu comfortably completed the chase with 2.1 overs to spare.

Pakistan will clash with Bangladesh for the Bronze Medal match on September 22 as India will take on Sri Lanka in the Gold Medal match on the same day.