Shafali Verma's historic ton fires India into Asian Games cricket final
Synopsis
Shafali Verma didn't just win a semifinal — she rewrote history. Her unbeaten 100 in Nisshin is the first century by any woman in Asian Games cricket, and her nine sixes broke Chamari Athapaththu's record for most maximums by a woman in a T20I calendar year. India now face Sri Lanka in a gold-medal final that is fast becoming their most familiar fixture.
Key Takeaways
Shafali Verma scored an unbeaten 100 — the first century by a woman cricketer in Asian Games history.
India posted 195/4 and dismissed Bangladesh for 81 to win the semifinal by 114 runs in Nisshin on 20 September 2026 .
Shafali's nine sixes set a new record for most sixes by a woman batter in T20Is in a calendar year — 35 in 2026, surpassing Chamari Athapaththu's 32 from 2024.
Deepti Sharma and Nandni Sharma each claimed 3 wickets ; Sree Charani took 2/7 .
India face Sri Lanka in the gold-medal final on Tuesday , a repeat of both the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games final and the recent Women's Asia Cup final.
Shafali Verma smashed a maiden white-ball century and Nandni Sharma, Deepti Sharma, and Sree Charani ran through the Bangladesh batting order as India Women cruised to a 114-run victory in the Asian Games cricket semifinal in Nisshin on Sunday, 20 September 2026, setting up a gold-medal final against Sri Lanka.
Shafali's Historic Innings
Shafali Verma became the first female cricketer to score a century in Asian Games history, finishing unbeaten on 100 off her allotted deliveries, including three fours and nine sixes. Her knock powered India to a commanding 195/4 in 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana provided early acceleration with a blistering 37 off 19 balls, and the pair put on 72 for the opening wicket inside the powerplay before Mandhana fell on the final ball of the sixth over.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a measured 40 at the other end, allowing Shafali to go for her shots and bring up her hundred off the last delivery of the innings with a single off Shorna Akter.
Notably, Shafali's nine sixes in a single innings set a new record for the most maximums by a woman batter in T20 Internationals in a calendar year. She surpassed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu's tally of 32 sixes set in 2024, and now stands at 35 for the 2026 calendar year — having entered the match on 26 for the year.
Bowlers Complete the Rout
Bangladesh never threatened in their chase. Nandni Sharma struck with her very first delivery in the second over, removing Juairiya Ferdous for a golden duck. Sree Charani, ranked No. 1 in T20I bowling, had Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana caught at mid-on for nine, while Shreyanka Patil dismissed Shorna Akter for five as Bangladesh slumped to 43/4 after seven overs.
Deepti Sharma removed top-scorer Dilara Akter for 27 before Nandni took two wickets in two balls in the 11th over — first catching and bowling Nahida Akter, then cleaning up Rabeya Khan. Charani had Sharmim Akhter stumped in the 14th over, and Deepti wrapped up the innings in the 15th, dismissing Marufa Akter and Shanjida Akter Meghla to bowl Bangladesh out for 81 in 15.4 overs. Final figures: Deepti 3/7, Nandni 3/25, Charani 2/7.
The Gold-Medal Rematch
India will face Sri Lanka in the gold-medal final on Tuesday in a repeat of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games final — which India won — and the recently concluded Women's Asia Cup final. Harmanpreet Kaur's side enter as defending champions and strong favourites. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the bronze-medal play-off on the same day.
Brief Scores
India 195/4 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 100*, Harmanpreet Kaur 40; Shanjida Akter Meghla 1/25, Rabeya Khan 1/35) beat Bangladesh 81/10 in 15.4 overs (Dilara Akter 27; Deepti Sharma 3/7, Nandni Sharma 3/25, Sree Charani 2/7) by 114 runs.
Point of View
But what it also underscores is a deeper structural strength in Indian women's cricket: the team is no longer reliant on a single all-format superstar. A bowling unit headlined by the world's No. 1 T20I bowler, backed by a captain in Harmanpreet who manages chases and defences with equal composure, suggests India have depth that rivals in the continent have not yet matched. The Sri Lanka final will test that thesis — Chamari Athapaththu is precisely the kind of match-winner who can flip a game in the powerplay, and India's bowlers will need to replicate Sunday's discipline in a higher-stakes setting.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Shafali Verma break in the Asian Games 2026 semifinal?
Shafali Verma became the first woman cricketer to score a century in Asian Games cricket history, finishing unbeaten on 100. Her nine sixes in the innings also broke Chamari Athapaththu's record for the most sixes by a woman in T20Is in a calendar year, taking her tally to 35 in 2026.
By how many runs did India beat Bangladesh in the Asian Games cricket semifinal?
India beat Bangladesh by 114 runs. India scored 195/4 in 20 overs, then bowled Bangladesh out for 81 in 15.4 overs.
Who are India facing in the Asian Games 2026 cricket gold-medal final?
India will face Sri Lanka in the gold-medal final on Tuesday in Nisshin. It is a repeat of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games final, which India won, and the recently concluded Women's Asia Cup final.
Who were India's top bowlers against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal?
Deepti Sharma and Nandni Sharma each took three wickets, while Sree Charani — the world's No. 1 ranked T20I bowler — claimed 2/7. Their combined effort bowled Bangladesh out for just 81 runs.
Are India the defending Asian Games cricket champions?
Yes. India are the defending gold medallists in women's cricket at the Asian Games, having won the title at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. A win in Tuesday's final against Sri Lanka would make them back-to-back champions.
