India Dominates Sri Lanka with Record 216 in Women's Cricket Gold Medal Match
India's Stellar Performance in Asian Games 2026
In a thrilling encounter at the Asian Games 2026, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Indian women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, set an impressive target of 216 runs for Sri Lanka. Smriti Mandhana played a pivotal role, scoring 79 runs, while Richa Ghosh's late innings surge further bolstered the team's total.
India began their innings with a strong start, as opener Smriti Mandhana hit two boundaries in the very first over bowled by Sugandika Kumari. She continued her aggressive batting style, hitting two consecutive sixes in the third over, helping India reach 25 runs without loss.
The partnership between Mandhana and Shafali Verma flourished, adding 15 runs in the next over, bringing the score to 40/0. In the fifth over, under the captaincy of Chamari Athapaththu, the duo unleashed a barrage of runs, scoring 19 runs, including three sixes, pushing India to 59/0. By the end of the powerplay, India had established a solid position at 67/0.
Mandhana reached her 37th T20I half-century on the second ball of the 10th over, making history as the first female cricketer to surpass 11,000 runs in international cricket. However, she lost her partner Shafali, who contributed a quick 48 runs off 29 balls, as Chamudi Praboda took the wicket, breaking their 99-run opening partnership.
After 13 overs, India stood at 123/1, but soon after, Kavisha Dilhari dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur for 19 runs, ending their 42-run partnership for the second wicket. Despite this, Richa Ghosh and Mandhana kept the scoreboard ticking, adding 15 runs in Praboda's 16th over, bringing the score to 157/2.
Mandhana's innings came to an end when Sugandika Kumari claimed her wicket for 79 runs off 45 balls, which included five fours and seven sixes, leaving India at 163/3. Nevertheless, Ghosh maintained the momentum, scoring 14 runs off Kawya Kavindi's over, pushing India to 182/3.
In the final over, Richa Ghosh showcased her batting prowess, scoring 17 runs off Mithali Ayodhya, leading India to a remarkable total of 216/3, marking their highest score in women's cricket at the Asian Games. Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49 runs from 22 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. For Sri Lanka, Praboda, Dilhari, and Kumari each took one wicket.