Nisshin, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India women successfully defended their Asian Games cricket gold medal after a dominant 147-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at Korogi Sports Park on Tuesday.
The Indian team delivered an all-round performance, posting a record 216/3 before bowling Sri Lanka out for just 69. Smriti Mandhana led the batting effort with a brilliant 79, while Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Sree Charani combined to claim nine wickets.
The victory gave India its first gold medal of the ongoing Asian Games and seventh medal overall. India had also won gold in the previous edition and successfully defended the title against the same opposition.
India’s 216/3 was the highest total in the history of the women’s Asian Games and also the highest score in a women’s T20 final.
Mandhana smashed 79 off just 45 balls, hitting seven sixes and five fours. Her innings also saw her become the first player in women’s cricket to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket.
Shafali continued her strong form after scoring her maiden white-ball hundred in the semifinal against Bangladesh, making 48 off 29 balls with three fours and three sixes.
Richa Ghosh provided the final flourish with an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls, while Bharti Fulmali added seven from as many deliveries as India reached the record total.
India surpassed the previous highest Asian Games women’s total of 202/4, scored by Hong Kong against Mongolia in the 2023 Hangzhou Games. The total also went past Brazil women’s previous record of 210 in a women’s T20 final against Spain earlier this year.
With the ball, Deepti Sharma led India’s attack with three wickets, while Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Sree Charani also contributed with wickets as Sri Lanka struggled throughout the chase.
Shafali struck first by dismissing Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera before Deepti removed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu for 29, caught at long-off.
Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets at regular intervals while attempting to chase the imposing target. Deepti added two more wickets and top-ranked T20I bowler Sree Charani also claimed two.
Shreyanka completed the victory by dismissing the final Sri Lankan batter, Kaushani Nuthyangana, for 14.
Brief Scores: India 216/3 (Smriti Mandhana 79 off 45, Richa Ghosh 49* off 22; Chamudi Praboda 1/34, Kavisha Dilhari 1/35) beat Sri Lanka 69 (Chamari Athapaththu 29 off 21, Kaushani Nuthyangana 14 off 14; Deepti Sharma 3/6, Shafali Verma 2/3) by 147 runs.
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