Shafali Verma delivered an extraordinary exhibition of power-hitting to propel India into the Asian Games final, overpowering Bangladesh by 114 runs in a one-sided semi-final at the Korogi Sports Park in Nishine, Japan. Verma’s maiden Twenty20 International century set up a formidable total for India, arranging a gold-medal clash with Sri Lanka on Tuesday—a direct rematch of the 2023 Asian Games final in Hangzhou.
After electing to bat on Sunday, 20 September, India launched an immediate assault on the Bangladeshi bowling attack. Verma and her opening partner, Smriti Mandhana, plundered 72 runs during the six-over powerplay. Mandhana reached two significant personal milestones during her brief stay at the crease, surpassing New Zealand’s Suzie Bates to become the highest run-scorer in women’s T20 International history, while also registering her 100th six in the format.
Bangladesh earned a brief reprieve when left-arm spinner Nahida Akter dismissed Mandhana for 37. Shortly after, G. Kamalini fell for just three runs off ten deliveries, momentarily slowing the scoring rate. Verma, however, quickly reasserted dominance. She brought up her half-century with a soaring six, which simultaneously marked her 100th over-boundary in international T20 cricket.
Alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed a quick-fire 40, Verma constructed a devastating 94-run partnership. She treated the opposition attack with disdain, at one point carving 22 runs from a single over bowled by Nahida and Marufa Akter. On the final ball of the innings, Verma pushed a delivery towards cover-point to complete a historic century. She finished unbeaten on 100 off 49 balls, an innings comprising nine sixes and three boundaries, lifting India to a daunting total of 195 for four.
Faced with a steep target of 196, Bangladesh collapsed under the weight of India’s combined pace and spin attack. Opening batter Dilara Akter offered the sole meaningful resistance, scoring 27 runs and combining with captain Nigar Sultana for a 29-run stand. Besides Dilara, only one other Bangladeshi batter managed to reach double figures, as the batting order fell apart in rapid succession.
Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 81 in 15.4 overs. Celebrating her birthday, Indian bowler Nandini Sharma made an instant impact by taking a wicket with her first delivery, ultimately finishing with figures of three for 25. Off-spinner Deepti Sharma delivered an exceptionally frugal spell, claiming three for seven, whilst Sree Charani picked up two for seven.
The heavy defeat comes just a week after Bangladesh suffered a 40-run loss to India in the Women’s Asia Cup final. The consecutive setbacks highlight a growing gap between the two sides on the major stage, exposing persistent vulnerabilities in Bangladesh’s top-order batting when chasing substantial totals. While India advance to battle Sri Lanka for gold, Bangladesh must now regroup to compete in the bronze-medal fixture.
