India Women crushed Japan by 8 wickets in the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket quarterfinal, booking their place in the semifinals.
Japan were dismissed for a paltry 57 runs in 19.5 overs, with Sree Charani claiming four wickets to lead India’s bowling effort.
India needed just five overs to chase down the target, thanks to a blistering 15-ball 40 from Shafali Verma.
Verma capped the chase with a towering six, finishing the match in dominant fashion for the defending champions.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s side now progresses to the semifinals as India continue their pursuit of a second straight Asian Games title.
India chased down the target in only five overs, with Shafali Verma smashing an explosive 15-ball 40 to seal the match in style.
Verma finished the chase with a massive six off a full delivery, wrapping up the victory emphatically for the defending champions.
India Women are led by Harmanpreet Kaur at the Asian Games 2026, with the squad also featuring Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh.
The quarterfinal was played at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, part of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games venues.
India enter the tournament as the defending Asian Games women’s cricket champions, having won gold in the previous edition.
The Asian Games 2026 officially opens on September 19, with several preliminary events, including cricket, already underway from September 18.
India’s cricket contingent also includes a men’s team competing separately in the tournament, alongside representation in soft tennis and teqball.
The Asian Games women’s cricket competition follows a knockout format from the quarterfinal stage onward, with the winner advancing directly to the semifinals.
India’s dominant win over Japan continues a strong recent run of form for the team heading into the knockout rounds of the tournament.
The 8-wicket margin reflects the scale of India’s dominance, with the bowling unit restricting Japan to a total India chased down with ease.
Cricket stadium (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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