India Women crush Japan by 8 wickets to book semi‑final spot at Asian Games 2026

On a breezy evening in Hangzhou, the Indian women’s cricket team turned the quarter‑final into a masterclass. After winning the toss, they elected to let Japan set the tone, and the hosts could hardly muster more than 57 runs in 19.5 overs.

Sree Charani was the star with the ball, twirling the ball and teasing the Japanese batters into mistakes. Four wickets fell to her deft spin – a performance that will be talked about for weeks. Shafali Verma chipped in with two crucial breakthroughs, while Deepti Sharma and Meghna Patel each added a wicket to seal the innings.

When it was India’s turn to bat, the scoreboard read a modest 58. But what happened next felt more like a fireworks display than a chase. Shafali, who had already made an impact with the ball, exploded with the bat – 40 runs off just 15 balls, punctuated by a six that sent Shimako Kato’s ball sailing over long‑on. Richa Ghosh offered solid support, adding an unbeaten 12 off six deliveries.

In just five overs, India finished at 59/2, leaving 90 balls untouched – a margin that made the win look almost routine. The crowd erupted as the duo shared a quick hug, then turned their applause toward the Japanese side, who took a gracious lap of the ground, bowing to the spectators.

Looking ahead, India now gears up for a semi‑final clash with Bangladesh on Sunday. The other semi‑final pits Sri Lanka against Pakistan, with the winners meeting in the gold‑medal showdown and the losers contesting bronze.

Off the field, bowler Sree Charani admitted she’s soaking in the Japanese ambience, calling the Asian Games a “great experience”. She confessed that the team arrived early, rested after the Asia Cup final, and had limited practice before the match – yet the results speak for themselves.

Japan, despite being the underdogs, earned applause for their spirited start. Openers Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato Stafford added a quick 24 runs, showing flashes of potential. Their effort, though, was swallowed by India’s relentless spin attack.

All in all, a one‑sided yet delightful contest that reminded fans why cricket at the Asian Games is worth watching.