19th Asian Games: India Thrash Bangladesh By 8 Wickets to Reach Women’s Cricket Final

Hangzhou: Pooja Vastrakar delivered a sensational bowling performance to guide the Indian women’s cricket team to their first-ever Asian Games final, crushing Bangladesh by eight wickets in a one-sided semi-final match. The right-arm seamer replaced Anjali Sarvani in the squad just before the tournament, and she recorded her career-best figures of 4/17 in four overs. Bangladesh were bowled out for a mere 51 runs in 17.5 overs, marking their lowest-ever T20 score against India.

Vastrakar, along with her young new-ball partner Titas Sadhu (1/10 in 4 overs), exploited the pitch’s conditions superbly, generating both pace and bounce. Bangladesh struggled to cope, with skipper Nigar Sultana (12) being the only player to reach double figures.

India’s chase of 52 runs was a breeze, completed in just 8.2 overs. Kanika Ahuja (1 not out) and Jemimah Rodrigues (20 not out) steered India home despite the early dismissals of skipper Smriti Mandhana (7) and Shafali (17).

This victory also carried a sense of redemption for the women’s team, who had to play without their regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, serving a two-match suspension due to her previous public outburst and criticism of Bangladeshi umpiring.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh 51 in 17.5 overs (Pooja Vastrakar 4/17) lost to India 52/2 in 8.2 overs (Shafali Verma 17, Jemimah Rodrigues 20 not out).