Aichi, Sep 18: India stormed into the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket tournament with a dominant eight-wicket win over hosts Japan in the quarter-final here on Friday.
Electing to bowl, India bundled out Japan for a modest 57 in 19.5 overs, with spinner Shree Charani producing a career-best spell of 4/10 to trigger a dramatic collapse.
Japan made a cautious beginning, with openers Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato-Stafford putting together 24 runs for the first wicket. Charani then struck twice in the seventh over, dismissing Iwasaki for 10 before removing Japan captain Mai Yanagida for a golden duck.
Wickets fell rapidly thereafter as India’s bowlers and fielders kept the hosts under pressure. India also effected two run-outs, while Shafali Verma and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with wickets.
Kato-Stafford top-scored for Japan with 25 off 47 balls before being dismissed by Shafali. Japan were eventually bowled out for 57.
India’s chase was swift, with Shafali Verma taking the attack to the Japanese bowlers from the outset. She smashed four boundaries in the opening over to race India to 17/0.
Japan managed two wickets, with Nonoha Yasumoto dismissing Gunalan Kamalini for a duck and Kato-Stafford removing Bharti Fulmali.
However, Shafali and Richa Ghosh ensured there were no further setbacks. Shafali remained unbeaten on 40 off just 15 balls and sealed the victory with a six, while Richa contributed an unbeaten 12.
India reached 59/2 in just five overs to complete a comfortable eight-wicket victory.
The defending champions will face Bangladesh in the semi-final on Sunday, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka will contest the other last-four clash.
The women’s cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is being played in a straight knockout format starting from the quarter-finals.
Brief scores: Japan Women 57 all out in 19.5 overs (Ayaka Kato-Stafford 25; Shree Charani 4/10) lost to India Women 59/2 in 5 overs (Shafali Verma 40 not out; Richa Ghosh 12 not out) by eight wickets.
