Shafali Verma’s Record Century Powers India Into Asian Games 2026 Cricket Final

India’s women’s cricket team produced another commanding performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, defeating Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semifinal at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on September 20.

The victory booked India’s place in the gold-medal match, where the defending champions will face Sri Lanka on September 22 in a repeat of the 2023 Asian Games final. The semifinal belonged to Shafali Verma, who produced a record-breaking innings under pressure to become the first woman to score a century in Asian Games cricket. Her unbeaten 100 from just 49 deliveries powered India to 195/3 before a disciplined bowling performance restricted Bangladesh to 81 all out in 15.4 overs.

India ultimately won by 114 runs to move into the summit clash with their hopes of defending the Asian Games title firmly intact.

India opted to bat first after winning the toss, and Shafali immediately set the tone for an imposing total. The opening partnership provided India with a strong platform, with Smriti Mandhana contributing 37 before departing. Mandhana's innings was also significant, as she reached another milestone by becoming the leading run-scorer in women's T20I cricket during the match.

With Mandhana back in the pavilion, Shafali took complete control. The right-handed opener attacked the Bangladesh bowling with a combination of powerful strokes and calculated aggression. She smashed nine sixes and three fours during her extraordinary 49-ball stay at the crease.

The defining moment came from the final delivery of India's innings. Shafali reached the three-figure mark with a boundary, finishing unbeaten on 100 and becoming the first woman to score a century in the history of Asian Games cricket.

It was also her maiden century in T20I cricket. Her innings provided India with the acceleration required to post a formidable total of 195/3.

Harmanpreet Kaur provides crucial support

While Shafali dominated the scoring, captain Harmanpreet Kaur played an important supporting role. Harmanpreet scored 40 from 33 balls, using her experience to rotate the strike and find gaps in the Bangladesh field. Her partnership with Shafali proved decisive.

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The pair added 94 runs from just 55 deliveries, transforming India's innings after Mandhana's dismissal and putting Bangladesh under considerable pressure before the chase had even begun. The contribution was particularly important because India lost Gunalan Kamalini for just three runs, leaving Shafali and Harmanpreet to rebuild the innings.

Instead of allowing Bangladesh to regain control, the pair increased the tempo. Shafali's boundary-hitting ensured India maintained a high scoring rate, while Harmanpreet's ability to find gaps provided stability at the other end.

India eventually reached 195, giving their bowlers a substantial target to defend.

Bangladesh's chase never really gathered momentum. The pressure of chasing 196 was evident from the beginning, with Juairiya Ferdous dismissed for a duck and Bangladesh losing wickets at regular intervals. Dilara Akter provided some resistance with 27, but the Bangladesh batting order struggled to build partnerships.

Sobhana Mostary managed only four runs, while captain Nigar Sultana scored nine. Sultana Khatun and Sharmin Akhter were among the few Bangladesh batters to reach double figures, scoring 12 and 10 respectively. India's bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings, preventing Bangladesh from putting together a substantial partnership.

The innings eventually ended at 81 all out in 15.4 overs, handing India a massive 114-run victory.

India's bowling performance complemented Shafali's batting heroics. Nandani Sharma and Deepti Sharma were the standout bowlers, claiming three wickets each.

Their spells ensured that Bangladesh could not build any momentum during the chase. Shree Charani also made an important contribution with two wickets, while Kranti Gaud and Shreyanka Patil picked up one wicket each. The collective effort meant Bangladesh were never able to threaten India's total.

India's bowlers consistently found breakthroughs whenever Bangladesh appeared capable of establishing a partnership, and the pressure eventually resulted in the entire batting lineup being dismissed before the end of the 16th over.

India set up another final against Sri Lanka

The victory means India are guaranteed at least a silver medal at the Asian Games 2026. More importantly, the defending champions now have an opportunity to retain the gold medal they won at the 2023 Asian Games, where India defeated Sri Lanka in the final. The two teams will meet again in the summit clash on September 22.

For India, the route to the final has been emphatic. After comfortably defeating hosts Japan in the quarterfinal, Harmanpreet Kaur's side followed it up with another dominant display against Bangladesh. And at the centre of the latest victory was Shafali Verma.

Her unbeaten 100 was not only the first women's century in Asian Games cricket but also her first T20I hundred, making the innings one of the defining individual performances of India's campaign.

India now stand one victory away from another Asian Games gold medal.

Shafali has made history, India's bowlers have delivered, and the Women in Blue are through to the final. The stage is now set for India vs Sri Lanka on September 22.