India make short work of Japan after losing two wickets in Tokyo Asian Games

Tokyo: India women hammered Japan by eight wickets in their opening Asian Games 2026 encounter at Nisshin near here on Friday. The match was a quarterfinal and by virtue of their win, India now advance to the semifinal where they will face Bangladesh on Sunday.

India won the toss and put Japan into bat. The Japanese team was dismissed for 57 in 19.5 overs. Opener Ayaka Kato-Stafford was the top-scorer with 25 while fellow opener Haruna Iwasaki was the ponly other Japan batter to get into double figures. She hit 10.

Left-arm spinner Shree Charani was the most successful bowler as she picked 4/10 in four overs while Shafali Verma took 2/13. Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma took a wicket apiece.

In response, India lost two wickets. Smriti Mandhana did not open and in her place, Gunalan Kamalini came out to bat. Kamalini made a duck as she was caught at long on. Bharti Fulmali was the second wicket to fall with the No. 3 batter playing across the line and getting caught at gully.

Richa Ghosh, who was promoted ahead of Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, remained unbeaten on 12 off eight balls as Shafali Verma finished the game with a whirlwind unbeaten 40 off 15 balls (6x4s, 2x6s). India chased the target in exactly five overs. 

Tags : Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma, Asian Games, cricket, Nisshin