Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh power India to highest-ever Asian Games total in gold-medal match vs Sri Lanka
NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana 's blistering 79 and Richa Ghosh 's explosive unbeaten 49 helped India post a daunting 216/3, their highest-ever total in women's cricket at the Asian Games, against Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match at the Korogi Sports Park on Tuesday.
Batting first after Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss, India came out attacking from the outset, with Mandhana setting the tone in the opening over. The left-hander struck two boundaries off Sugandika Kumari before continuing her assault in the third over, smashing two successive sixes off the Sri Lankan bowler.
Shafali Verma soon joined the party, and India raced to 40/0 after four overs. The fifth over, bowled by Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, yielded 19 runs, including three sixes, as the opening pair took India to 59/0. India finished the powerplay at 67/0.
Mandhana reached her 37th T20I half-century from 31 balls in the 10th over. The milestone was even more significant as she also became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket.
SCORECARD: India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games gold-medal match
However, India lost Shafali later in the same over. Chamudi Praboda dismissed the opener for a brisk 48 off 29 balls, ending India's 99-run opening partnership. Shafali's innings featured three fours and three sixes.
Mandhana lays foundation before Richa's late assault
Mandhana continued to anchor India's innings as Harmanpreet joined her in the middle. The pair took India to 123/1 after 13 overs before Kavisha Dilhari ended their 42-run partnership by dismissing Harmanpreet for 19 off 17 balls.
Richa then joined Mandhana and immediately maintained the tempo. The pair added 15 runs from Praboda's 16th over, taking India to 157/2.
Sri Lanka finally got the prized wicket of Mandhana in the 17th over when Sugandika Kumari dismissed her for 79 off 45 balls. Mandhana's innings included five fours and seven sixes, leaving India at 163/3.
There was no let-up in India's scoring after her departure. Richa took charge, smashing 14 runs from Kavya Kavindi's over as India crossed 180.
The wicketkeeper-batter saved her most damaging assault for the final over. Taking on Mithali Ayodhya, Richa smashed 17 runs to propel India to 216/3 after 20 overs.
Richa remained unbeaten on 49 off just 22 balls, with six fours and three sixes, narrowly missing a half-century but ensuring India finished with a formidable total.
For Sri Lanka, Praboda, Dilhari and Kumari claimed one wicket apiece.
The 216/3 surpassed India's previous best total in women's cricket at the Asian Games and gave the defending champions a substantial platform as they looked to retain the gold medal.
Batting first after Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss, India came out attacking from the outset, with Mandhana setting the tone in the opening over. The left-hander struck two boundaries off Sugandika Kumari before continuing her assault in the third over, smashing two successive sixes off the Sri Lankan bowler.
Shreyas Iyer excited for historic India-Japan clash, praises IPL as talent platform
Shafali Verma soon joined the party, and India raced to 40/0 after four overs. The fifth over, bowled by Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, yielded 19 runs, including three sixes, as the opening pair took India to 59/0. India finished the powerplay at 67/0.
Mandhana reached her 37th T20I half-century from 31 balls in the 10th over. The milestone was even more significant as she also became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket.
SCORECARD: India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games gold-medal match
However, India lost Shafali later in the same over. Chamudi Praboda dismissed the opener for a brisk 48 off 29 balls, ending India's 99-run opening partnership. Shafali's innings featured three fours and three sixes.
Mandhana lays foundation before Richa's late assault
Mandhana continued to anchor India's innings as Harmanpreet joined her in the middle. The pair took India to 123/1 after 13 overs before Kavisha Dilhari ended their 42-run partnership by dismissing Harmanpreet for 19 off 17 balls.
Richa then joined Mandhana and immediately maintained the tempo. The pair added 15 runs from Praboda's 16th over, taking India to 157/2.
Sri Lanka finally got the prized wicket of Mandhana in the 17th over when Sugandika Kumari dismissed her for 79 off 45 balls. Mandhana's innings included five fours and seven sixes, leaving India at 163/3.
There was no let-up in India's scoring after her departure. Richa took charge, smashing 14 runs from Kavya Kavindi's over as India crossed 180.
The wicketkeeper-batter saved her most damaging assault for the final over. Taking on Mithali Ayodhya, Richa smashed 17 runs to propel India to 216/3 after 20 overs.
Richa remained unbeaten on 49 off just 22 balls, with six fours and three sixes, narrowly missing a half-century but ensuring India finished with a formidable total.
For Sri Lanka, Praboda, Dilhari and Kumari claimed one wicket apiece.
The 216/3 surpassed India's previous best total in women's cricket at the Asian Games and gave the defending champions a substantial platform as they looked to retain the gold medal.
Next Story