INDIA women defended their gold medal after thrashing Sri Lanka in the final of the cricket event at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan on Tuesday. The Women in Blue starred in both departments, with Smriti Mandhana’s 79 leading them to a record 216-3 in the final, while Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Sree Charani shared nine wickets to power India to a huge 147-run victory. This is India’s first gold medal at the ongoing Asiad and overall seventh medal. The Women in Blue had won the gold in the previous edition of the Games too and have now defended their title against the same team. India scored the highest total in the history of the Women’s Asian Games andalso the highest score in a Women’s T20 event final with a record-breaking performance in the gold medal clash.

 

Mandhana was in top form as she made 79 from just 45 balls with 7 sixes and 5 fours in a knock that saw her become the first player in women’s cricket to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket. Shafali had another strong outing after her maiden whiteball hundred in the semi-final against Bangladesh as she made 48 from 29 deliveries laced with three fours and as many sixes. Richa provided the final push. She scored unbeaten 49 from 22 balls, while Bharti Fulmali also made a run-a-ball seven to take India to a record 216-3 in the gold medal clash. The bowlers did a stellar job too. Deepti was the pick of the bowlers with her three wickets, while Shafali, Deepti and Charani also picked 2 wickets each to bowl Lanka out for just 69.