Asian Games 2026: The Indian team delivered a magnificent performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s cricket final held at the Korogi Sports Park in Nishin. With this victory, Team India secured its first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, while Sri Lanka had to settle for the silver medal. Earlier, Pakistan had claimed the bronze medal by defeating Bangladesh.
In the final match, the Indian women’s team batted first and scored 216 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs. In response, the entire Sri Lankan team was bowled out for just 69 runs in 15.4 overs. This victory marked the Indian women’s team’s biggest win in terms of runs in T20 International cricket.
Smriti Mandhana plays a brilliant knock of 79 runs
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Indian team got off to a flying start thanks to Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The duo added 99 runs for the first wicket. Mandhana batted aggressively, completing her half-century in just 30 balls.
She played an excellent innings of 79 runs off 45 balls, featuring 5 fours and 7 sixes. Meanwhile, Shafali Verma missed out on a half-century, getting out for 48 runs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 19 runs.
Subsequently, Richa Ghosh scored rapidly to propel the Indian innings to a massive total, remaining unbeaten on 49 off just 22 balls. Ghosh and her partner shared a 53-run stand. India finished with 216 for 3 in 20 overs, setting the highest-ever score in the history of women’s cricket at the Asian Games.
Sri Lanka bowled out for 69 runs
Chasing a target of 217 runs, the Sri Lankan team got off to a poor start. Indian bowlers maintained pressure on the batters right from the beginning. Imesha Dulani was dismissed for 3 runs off 10 balls, while Hasini Perera returned to the pavilion without opening her account.
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was the team’s top scorer with 29 runs off 21 balls. Apart from her, Kavisha Dilhari scored 11 runs. The other batters could not withstand the Indian bowling attack, and the entire team was bowled out for 69 runs in 15.4 overs.
For India, Deepti Sharma bowled brilliantly, claiming 3 wickets. Sri Charani and Shreyanka Patil took 2 wickets each. Powered by this outstanding bowling performance, Team India won the final match by 147 runs and secured the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
