Asian Games: Shafali’s historic century helps India storm into gold medal contention

Brief scores: India (195/4 in 20 overs) defeated Bangladesh (81-all in 14.5 overs) in the women’s cricket semi-final at the Asian Games on Sunday.

Shafali Verma produced a record century as India stormed into the Asian Games women’s cricket gold medal match, defeating Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semi-final in Nisshin on Sunday. | Complete scorecard |

The 22-year-old opener smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls to become the first cricketer to score a century in the history of Asian Games women’s cricket. Her innings was laced with three fours and nine sixes as India posted 195 for 4 after being sent into bat.

It was only the third century by an Indian woman in women’s T20Is, after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Shafali’s 49-ball hundred also equaled Harmanpreet’s record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian woman, which she made against New Zealand in 2018.

Nine sixes in Shafali’s innings equaled the record for most sixes in a women’s T20I innings, joining West Indies stars Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews.

Her stunning run of form in the format continued throughout the year, with Shafali now having crossed 800 T20I runs in 2026.

She found support from skipper Harmanpreet, who made 40 off 33 balls, while Mandhana made 37 off 19 as India put up a formidable total.

Shafali was in devastating touch from the start, finding the boundary with a mixture of clean strokes and remarkable timing. She reached her fifty in just 26 balls before accelerating further and clearing the ropes repeatedly with her signature power. Bangladesh had no answers as they dismantled the attack in the second half of the innings and brought up their century with a six before raising their bat to a standing ovation.

DEEPTI AND NANDANA SEPTEMBER

Bangladesh had little respite in the chase. India’s bowlers dismantled the opposition for 81 in 15.4 overs, with Deepti Sharma and Nandani Sharma taking three wickets apiece. Deepti was particularly economical, finishing with 3 for 7 from 2.4 overs.

The win puts India in the gold medal match on September 22, keeping their title defense alive. India won the women’s cricket gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and now has an opportunity to retain it in Aichi-Nagoya.

Standing between India and another gold medal will be Sri Lanka, who produced another brilliant performance to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the first semi-final.

Pakistan posted 177 for 4, powered by Ayesha Zafar’s 71 off 40 balls and Shawaal Zulfiqar’s 54 off 50. However, Sri Lanka chased down the target in just 17.5 overs, reaching 178 for 2. Captain Chamari Athapaththu anssbe 3 off led the chase with a four-ball 50 and six sixes.

The result sees India and Sri Lanka clash for the gold medal, while Pakistan and Bangladesh meet in the bronze medal match on September 22.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

20 Sep 2026 14:02 IST