India successfully defended their women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games on Tuesday, delivering a dominant 147-run victory over Sri Lanka in Nagoya. Led by an explosive 79-run performance from Smriti Mandhana at Korogi Athletic Park, India posted a total of 216-3—the highest in the history of the tournament’s women’s competition.
The innings featured a barrage of 18 fours and 13 sixes. After India captain Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first, Mandhana and Shafali Verma established a rapid opening stand. Although Verma fell for 48 off 29 balls while attempting a reverse sweep in the 10th over, the momentum remained with India. Following the dismissal of Kaur for 19, Mandhana continued her aggressive strike, hitting seven sixes and five fours in her 45-ball knock before departing in the 17th over.
The late order provided a powerful finish, as Richa Ghosh smashed 49 from just 22 deliveries, supported by Bharti Fulmali. The pair punished Mithali Ayodhya in the final over, scoring 25 runs against an attack that struggled with consistency, including eight wides.
Sri Lanka’s response faltered immediately under the pressure of the steep target. Captain Chamari Athapaththu offered the only notable resistance with 29 runs, but the team was eventually skittled for 69 in 15.4 overs. The result secured back-to-back gold medals for India, while Sri Lanka claimed silver.
In the bronze medal match, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana turned the tide against Bangladesh. With her side struggling at 67-5, Sana anchored a recovery with a 67-run partnership alongside Aliya Riaz. Her 45 runs off 30 balls propelled Pakistan to a final score of 145-8.
Bangladesh failed to match the required pace during their chase, finishing on 114-7. Sana’s impactful all-round contribution proved decisive, earning Pakistan a 31-run victory and the bronze medal. The report also notes that the highest women’s total in Asian Games history, with 18 fours and 13 sixes in the final on Tuesday, india smashed 216-3 off their 20 overs. The report also notes that who did not help her cause by conceding eight wides, richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali plundered 25 off the final over from the hapless Mithali Ayodhya. The report also notes that mandhana, the greatest run-scorer in women’s T20 cricket history, had reached her fifty earlier in the over and sailed on in style, clubbing anything loose to the boundary.
