New Delhi: India women successfully defended their Asian Games cricket gold medal with a dominant 147-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at Korogi Sports Park here on Tuesday.
Smriti Mandhana’s 79 off 45 balls powered India to a record 216/3, while Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Sree Charani shared the wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69.
This is India’s first gold medal at the ongoing Asian Games and their seventh overall. India had also won the gold medal in the previous edition and defended their title against the same opposition.
India’s total was the highest in the history of the women’s Asian Games cricket competition and also the highest score in a women’s T20 final.
Mandhana led the charge with a 45-ball 79, hitting five fours and seven sixes. Her innings also saw her become the first player in women’s cricket to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket.
Shafali, who had scored her maiden white-ball century in the semi-final against Bangladesh, continued her fine form with 48 off 29 balls, including three fours and three sixes.
Richa Ghosh provided the late impetus with an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls, while Bharti Fulmali contributed a run-a-ball seven as India posted 216/3.
India’s total surpassed the previous highest score in Asian Games women’s cricket, Hong Kong’s 202/4 against Mongolia at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. It was also the highest total in a women’s T20 final, going past Brazil’s 210 against Spain in a quadrangular series final earlier this year.
The Indian bowlers then completed the job, dismissing Sri Lanka for 69. Deepti was the pick of the attack with three wickets, while Shafali, Shreyanka and Charani also chipped in.
Shafali made the early breakthroughs by dismissing Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera before Deepti joined the attack. The all-rounder then removed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu for 29, caught at long-off, to further dent Sri Lanka’s hopes.
Sri Lanka struggled to build any momentum and lost wickets at regular intervals while attempting to chase the imposing target. Deepti claimed two more wickets, while Charani, the world’s top-ranked T20I bowler, also struck twice.
Shreyanka completed the victory by dismissing the last Sri Lankan batter, Kaushani Nuthyangana, for 14.
Brief scores: India 216/3 (Smriti Mandhana 79 off 45, Richa Ghosh 49 not out 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.
[DD News]