The Indian women’s cricket team secured their spot in the semifinals of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, thanks to an impactful batting display. Rain interruptions marred the match against Malaysia, which ultimately led to its conclusion. India posted a formidable total of 173/5 within their reduced quota of 15 overs, while Malaysia’s innings were limited to just two balls. India’s advancement was based on their higher ranking.
The upcoming challenge for Smriti Mandhana and her team will be the winner of the Bangladesh versus Hong Kong China clash, scheduled to take place at the Pingfeng Cricket Field in Zhejiang University of Technology on Friday.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, India enjoyed a blistering start as captain Mandhana and the explosive Shafali Verma consistently found the boundaries. Malaysia’s bowling offered a few full tosses, which the Indian batters capitalized on. Verma’s aggressive approach, frequently venturing down the track, put additional pressure on the bowlers.
While facing a packed offside field that targeted her strengths, Mandhana showcased tactical awareness by exploiting the leg side. However, her dismissal to spin during the powerplay raised concerns, especially with spin-heavy bowling attacks in the tournament.
Nonetheless, India maintained their momentum despite Mandhana’s departure. Verma was granted a lifeline when dropped on 18 at long-on in the fourth over, a costly mistake for Malaysia. The right-handed opener continued to dominate, accumulating a half-century and finishing with a remarkable 67 off 39 balls, including five sixes and four fours.
Jemimah Rodrigues joined Verma after the first rain interruption, ensuring that India’s scoring rate remained high despite the reduced match duration. Rodrigues, complementing Verma’s power with classical strokes, exhibited a wide array of shots on the offside, contributing an unbeaten 47 from 29 deliveries.
The final flourish for India came courtesy of the returning Richa Ghosh, who was excluded from the recent Bangladesh series. Ghosh made a significant impact in the end, smashing four boundaries in the final over. She remained unbeaten on 21 off just seven balls, boasting a strike rate of 300 with three fours and a six.
Although the run-chase would have been a daunting task for Malaysia, inclement weather curtailed the match after only two balls bowled by Pooja Vastrakar.
As India advances to the semifinals, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the team’s next challenge, hoping for a successful campaign at the Asian Games.