Cricket: Shafali's historic century helps India storm into gold medal match
Brief Score: India (195/4 in 20 overs) beat Bangladesh (81-all out in 14.5 overs) in women's cricket semifinal at Asian Games on Sunday.
Shafali Verma produced a record-breaking hundred as India stormed into the Asian Games women's cricket gold-medal match, hammering Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semi-final in Nisshin on Sunday. | Full Scorecard |
The 22-year-old opener smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls, becoming 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 in to bat.
It was only the third century by an Indian in women's T20Is, after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Shafali's 49-ball hundred also equalled Harmanpreet's record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian woman, set against New Zealand in 2018.
The nine sixes in Shafali's innings equalled the record for the 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 has continued throughout the year, with Shafali now past 800 T20I runs in 2026.
She found support from captain Harmanpreet, who struck 40 off 33 balls, while Mandhana made 37 off 19 as India built a formidable total.Shafali Verma turns on the power and brings up a magnificent hundred!Watch India vs Bangladesh semi-final match at the Asian Games 2026, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #AsianGames #AichiNagoya2026 pic.twitter.com/CuEynV9TNyβ Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 20, 2026Shafali was in devastating touch from the outset, finding the boundary with a mix of clean hitting and remarkable timing. She reached her fifty in just 26 balls before accelerating further, repeatedly clearing the ropes with her trademark power. Bangladesh had no answers as she took the attack apart in the second half of her innings, bringing up her century with a six before raising her bat to a standing ovation.DEEPTI AND NANDANA SHINE
There was little respite for Bangladesh 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 victory puts India into the gold-medal match on September 22, keeping their title defence alive. India won the women's cricket gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and now have an opportunity to retain it in Aichi-Nagoya.
Standing between India and another gold medal will be Sri Lanka, who produced another high-scoring 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. Sri Lanka, however, chased down the target in just 17.5 overs, reaching 178 for 2. Captain Chamari Athapaththu led the chase with an unbeaten 83 off 50 balls, hitting seven fours and six sixes.
The result sets up an India-Sri Lanka gold-medal clash, while Pakistan and Bangladesh will meet in the bronze-medal match on September 22.- EndsPublished By: Akshay RameshPublished On: Sep 20, 2026 14:02 IST
