Asian Games: India Women beat Bangladesh by 114 runs, to face Sri Lanka in final

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The Indian women’s cricket team cruised into the gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026 after thrashing Bangladesh by 114 runs in Sunday’s semi-final clash. Tasked with chasing a 196-run target, Bangladesh crumbled for 81 in 15.4 overs after brilliant bowling from India.

The chase started poorly when Indian fast bowler Nandini Sharma dismissed opener Juairiya Ferdous for a first-ball duck at the start of the second over. Fellow seamer Kranti Gaud quickly followed up by removing Sobhana Mostary for 4 in the third over, leaving the chasing side reeling at 9/2.

Though Bangladesh moved to 34/2 by the fifth over, leg-spinner Shree Charani broke through by sending back Nigar Sultana for 9 in the sixth over. Spinner Shreyanka Patil then dismissed Shorna Akter for 5 in the next over, restricting Bangladesh to 43/4 after seven overs. Off-spinner Deepti Sharma got on the board in the 10th over by removing Dilara Akter for 27, bringing the score to 53/5 midway through the innings.

Brilliant bowling seals India’s place in final

Nandini Sharma dealt a decisive blow in the 11th over by striking twice in quick succession, dismissing Nahida Akter for 4 and Rabeya Khan for a golden duck to reduce Bangladesh to 56/7.

Shree Charani got her second wicket by sending Sharmin Akhter back for 10 in the 14th over. Deepti Sharma then wrapped up the match by taking the final two wickets of Marufa Akter (5) and Shanjida Akter Meghla (0) in the 16th over. Deepti Sharma (3/7) and Nandini Sharma (3/25) stood out as the leading wicket-takers in the comprehensive rout.

The victory set up a gold-medal clash against Sri Lanka for the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad, who enter as defending champions from the previous Asian Games edition.

Earlier in the match, India posted a dominant 195/4 after choosing to bat first, guided by opener Shafali Verma‘s century. Verma made full use of favourable conditions and shorter side boundaries. 

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana added a quickfire 37 off 19 balls before falling to Nahida Akter, while Gunalan Kamalini made 3 off 10. Harmanpreet Kaur struck six boundaries in her 40 off 33 balls, guiding India to a total that proved well beyond Bangladesh’s reach.

(With inputs from ANI)

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