India Women Crush Sri Lanka To Win Asian Games Gold
India鈥檚 women鈥檚 cricket team reaffirmed its dominance in the continental game by winning a second successive Asian Games gold medal, thrashing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final on Tuesday.
The victory gave India its first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and capped another commanding campaign for Harmanpreet Kaur鈥檚 side.
After winning the toss, India produced a stunning batting display to post 216 for three, the highest total in Asian Games history. Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a sublime 79 off 45 balls before Richa Ghosh provided a spectacular finish with 49 not out off 22 balls.
Sri Lanka never came close to the target, being bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs as India鈥檚 spinners completed a dominant 147-run victory.
Mandhana, Shafali Set Up Record Total
India made full use of the powerplay, with Mandhana and Shafali Verma putting together a 99-run opening partnership from just 60 balls.
Shafali contributed 48 off 29 balls while Mandhana was at her elegant best, smashing seven sixes during her 79-run knock.
Mandhana targeted the Sri Lankan spinners from the outset, hitting Sugandika Kumari for consecutive sixes in the third over before taking on Mithali Ayodhya in the following over.
Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu also struggled to contain the Indian openers when she introduced herself into the attack in the fifth over. She conceded 19 runs, including three sixes.
Shafali eventually fell while attempting a reverse sweep against left-arm spinner Chamudi Praboda, but India remained firmly in control.
Richa Ghosh Delivers Brutal Finish
Harmanpreet Kaur came in at number three but could contribute only 19 off 17 balls before being caught at long off in the 15th over.
Mandhana then missed out on a century when she was caught in the deep off Kumari while attempting another slog sweep.
That brought Richa Ghosh to the fore.
The wicketkeeper-batter produced another explosive death-overs cameo, smashing an unbeaten 49 from just 22 deliveries. Her innings featured seven fours and three sixes as India powered past the 200-run mark.
India eventually finished on 216 for three, setting a record target in Asian Games cricket.
Indian Spinners Complete Sri Lanka Rout
The chase quickly turned into a one-sided affair.
Athapaththu was Sri Lanka鈥檚 only significant contributor with 29 off 21 balls, but she received little support as India鈥檚 bowlers dismantled the batting order.
Shafali completed an impressive all-round performance by taking two wickets for three runs, while Deepti Sharma returned figures of 3/6.
Shree Charani also chipped in with two wickets as Sri Lanka collapsed to 69 all out in only 15.4 overs.
The 147-run margin underlined India鈥檚 superiority throughout the tournament, with the defending champions recording three emphatic victories.
The result also continued India鈥檚 recent dominance over Sri Lanka after the two sides met in the Women鈥檚 Asia Cup final earlier this month.
Pakistan had earlier secured the bronze medal after beating Bangladesh by 31 runs.
India鈥檚 women have now successfully defended their Asian Games cricket title, while the men鈥檚 team will look to replicate their achievement and keep the cricket gold medals in Indian hands.
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Meta Description: India women won their second successive Asian Games cricket gold by defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs, securing India鈥檚 first gold medal at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
