Asian Games 2026: Women’s cricket team clinches India’s first gold in style

The Indian National anthem played for the first time at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday.

A blistering opening partnership followed by a cracking innings and spin choke-hold ensured the country its first gold at the Games. Harmanpreet Kaur’s women retained their title in commanding fashion with a 147-run victory against Sri Lanka in the final at the Korogi Athletics Park in Nisshin.

Chasing a massive 217-run target, Sri Lanka folded up for 69 in 15.4 overs, stumbling early on and never finding their footing as Deepti Sharma and Co. didn’t allow any breathing space to the Sri Lankan batters on a small ground.

The damage with the ball was initiated, as with the bat, by Shafali Verma who sent back Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera in consecutive overs to reduce the Islanders to 30 for two inside five overs. She didn’t come on again to bowl but the collapse had begun and when Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu was caught by Bharti Fulmali at long-off off Deepti, with the scoreboard reading 43 for three, it was all but over.

Chamari was the top-scorer for Lanka with 29 (21b, 5x4), one of only three batters to reach double digits in a line-up that had three ducks. Deepti scalped three while Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani got two wickets each as Sri Lanka ended with yet another silver from the continental showpiece after Hangzhou 2023.

Earlier, having elected to bat, the Indians continued in the same vein as in the Asia Cup final nine days ago. Shafali (48, 29b, 3x4, 3x6) and Smriti Mandhana (79, 45b, 5x4, 7x6) were in imperious form. The two added 99 in the first 10 overs, scoring at over 150 strike rate each. Shafali, trying to go for a reverse sweep, failed to clear the infield, and missed out on a half-century.

Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 22-ball 49 (6x4, 3x6) was the icing on the cake and propelled the total beyond 200 after Harmanpreet fell for 19. Smriti’s sublime but equally destructive knock was the foundation of India’s daunting 216 for three.

In the morning, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana’s 30-ball 45 and Umm-e-Hani’s three for 10 helped the team clinch the bronze with a 31-run victory against Bangladesh in the play-off.

The scores (final): India 216/3 in 20 overs (Shafali 48, Smriti 79, Richa 49 n.o.) bt Sri Lanka 69 in 15.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 29, Shafali 2/3, Deepti 3/6, Shreyanka 2/9, Shree Charani 2/13). Toss: India.