India Women thump Japan, reach Asian Games cricket semifinal

India Women thumped Japan by 8 wickets in the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket quarterfinal, reaching the semifinal stage.

Japan Women were bowled out for just 57 runs in 19.5 overs, with Sree Charani the standout bowler, taking four wickets.

India needed only five overs to complete the chase, thanks to Shafali Verma’s blistering 15-ball 40.

Verma ended the innings with a massive six, sealing a dominant win for the defending Asian Games champions.

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India Women now advance to the semifinals in their title defence.

Japan Women were bowled out for just 57 runs in 19.5 overs, with Sree Charani finishing as India’s standout bowler with four wickets.

India chased down the target in only five overs, with Shafali Verma smashing an explosive 15-ball 40 to seal the match in style.

Verma finished the chase with a massive six off a full delivery, wrapping up the victory emphatically for the defending champions.

India Women are led by Harmanpreet Kaur at the Asian Games 2026, with the squad also featuring Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh.

The quarterfinal was played at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, part of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games venues.

India enter the tournament as the defending Asian Games women’s cricket champions, having won gold in the previous edition.

The Asian Games 2026 officially opens on September 19, with several preliminary events, including cricket, already underway from September 18.

India’s cricket contingent also includes a men’s team competing separately in the tournament, alongside representation in soft tennis and teqball.

The Asian Games women’s cricket competition follows a knockout format from the quarterfinal stage onward, with the winner advancing directly to the semifinals.

India’s dominant win over Japan continues a strong recent run of form for the team heading into the knockout rounds of the tournament.

Cricket stadium (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0