In a thrilling showdown at the 2023 Asian Games, India Women showcased their clear advantage. They secured a victory over Sri Lanka Women and clinched the gold medal. The match, played on a challenging batting surface, saw India opting to bat first. The openers made an initial push with a boundary each. However, it was a testing period for Shafali Vermmately got stumped for a modest nine runs off 15 balls.
Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues combined forces to rejuvenate the Indian innings. Mandhana, with a six and a four, concluded the powerplay. After that, both batters skillfully rotated the strike. India's run rate surpassed six runs per over only in the 13th over, as Mandhana and Rodrigues laid a foundation for the middle order to capitalize upon. Sri Lanka mounted a comeback in the latter stages, taking crucial wickets to put India on the back foot. The final five overs proved challenging for India, as they managed to add 27 runs to their total, finishing at 116.
On a track that favored turn, this score posed a formidable challenge for Sri Lanka. Chamari Athapaththu's early boundary and six in the first over added some tension to the Indian camp. India's Titas Sadhu turned the tide with a double-wicket maiden over, putting India in control. In her subsequent over, Sadhu removed Athapaththu, Sri Lanka's skipper, who had a misjudged shot.
Hasini Perera made efforts to revive Sri Lanka's hopes with a flurry of boundaries. Yet, her departure from 25 dealt a blow to their aspirations. With Sri Lanka struggling at 50/4 halfway through their innings, a monumental effort was required in the latter part to secure gold. Yet, India maintained their dominance, closing out the game in their favor.
Regarding individual performances, Smriti Mandhana's 46 and Jemimah Rodrigues' 42 laid the foundation for India's total. For Sri Lanka, Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoka Ranaweekra took two wickets each. In the bowling department, Titas Sadhu was the star for India, claiming three crucial wickets for just six runs. At the same time, Rajeshwari Gayakwad took two wickets.
With this victory, India Women not only secured the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games but also demonstrated their resilience and skill in challenging conditions. Their bowling unit's superb performance, led by Titas Sadhu, played a pivotal role in sealing the title. It will be remembered as a defining moment in Indian women's cricket.
Brief scores: India Women 116/7 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 46, Jemimah Rodrigues 42; Udeshika Prabodhani 2/16, Inoka Ranaweekra 2/21) beat Sri Lanka Women 97/8 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 25; Titas Sadhu 3/6, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/20) by 19 runs.