INDW Vs BANW Highlights, Asian Games Women's SF: Shafali’s Historic Hundred Sends India Into Final, Secures Medal

Hello, another day of the Asian Games, and a big one for India! Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. take on Bangladesh in the women’s cricket semi-final as they look to book their place in the final. Stay tuned for all the live updates.

The India vs Bangladesh women’s cricket semi-final at the Asian Games 2026 will be available for live streaming on Sony LIV. In India, the match will be telecast live on Sony Sports 1, with coverage also available in regional languages on Sony Sports 3, Sony Sports 3 HD and Sony Sports 4.

India Women have won the toss and have opted to bat.

India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Gunalan Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud

Bangladesh Women (Playing XI): Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Shorna Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Shanjida Akter Meghla, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun

The two teams are out for the national anthems, with India’s anthem up first, followed by Bangladesh’s. Harmanpreet Kaur has chosen to bat first, with India playing on the same pitch that hosted Pakistan vs Sri Lanka. The India captain expects the surface to get slower as the match progresses.

And here we go! The semi-final is officially underway. Smriti Mandhana takes guard, Shafali Verma is at the non-striker’s end, and Marufa Akter has the new ball. Bangladesh are ready, let’s see how India start this one.

Shafali Verma is turning it on. Shanjida Akter Meghla tosses one up right in the hitting arc, and Shafali launches it high and over long-off. With these short boundaries at Nisshin, that was always going to fly. What a way to finish the over.

Smriti Mandhana joins the party! Sultana Khatun drifts one short and down the leg side, and Mandhana swivels into a fierce pull over backward square leg. She nailed it flat, and those short boundaries have done the rest. The runs are flowing from both ends now.

Smriti Mandhana departs for 37! She goes looking for one final big hit before the powerplay ends, but Nahida Akter has her! Tossed up around off, Mandhana gets down for the slog sweep but fails to get underneath it, sending a miscued shot towards deep mid-wicket. Sobhana Mostary charges in and takes a sharp catch with both hands before tumbling to the ground.

Gunalan Kamalini comes to the crease.

Kamalini departs for 3! She finally connects with the sweep, but picks out the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Shanjida Akter Meghla tosses it up outside off, Kamalini fetches the ball and hits it flat, but Rabeya Khan is perfectly placed and makes no mistake.

India lose another wicket, with the No. 3 spot continuing to be a tricky one in Jemimah Rodrigues’ absence.

What a knock this has been. Shafali brings up her half-century in just 24 balls and raises her bat to soak in the applause. She dances down the track, gets right to the pitch of the ball and launches Nahida Akter straight back over her head. No trouble clearing the rope.

Shafali is in red-hot form.

Drinks are on the field! India have made a flying start, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana taking the attack to Bangladesh from the word go. The pair came out all guns blazing and powered India to 72 in the powerplay before Smriti fell for 37.

A wide first, as Shanjida Akter Meghla drifts one down the leg side, before Harmanpreet Kaur picks up a single to deep mid-wicket off the next delivery.

What a shot from Bharti Fulmali! Shorna Akter goes a touch too full and just outside off, and Bharti leans into it, opens the bat face and slices the lofted drive high over wide long-off. Beautifully picked and perfectly placed.

Shafali Verma has made history! She brings up her maiden white-ball international hundred and becomes the first batter to score a century in the Asian Games. The Indian dugout is on its feet as Shafali takes off her helmet and soaks in the applause.

Shorna Akter offers a delivery outside off, and Shafali chops it away for a single to bring up a landmark ton. What a moment for the Indian opener.

India finish on 195, a strong total built around Shafali Verma’s maiden T20I century, with Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur also making valuable contributions. The short square boundaries were put to good use, while Bangladesh kept things fairly tight with the ball and took their chances. But they now have a huge chase ahead if they are to reach the gold medal match.

And the chase is underway! Dilara Akter takes strike with Juairiya Ferdous at the other end, while Kranti Gaud has the new ball for India. Bangladesh need 196 to keep their gold medal hopes alive. The second innings is off and running!

Nigar Sultana departs for 9! Shree Charani strikes and India have another breakthrough. Nigar’s stay at the crease comes to an end as Kranti Gaud takes the catch.

Bangladesh can barely catch a breath as India’s bowlers keep piling on the pressure. Nandani sends one back into Rabeya Khan, who makes room to push but is beaten by the angle. The ball crashes into middle stump, and Bangladesh are in deep trouble.

India have stormed into the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket final after a dominant 114-run win over Bangladesh. Shafali Verma’s historic maiden T20I century powered India to 195/4 before the bowlers bundled Bangladesh out for 81, confirming India’s medal.

And that’s a wrap from the cricket! India are through to the Asian Games 2026 final, and the women’s team have secured a medal. You can now switch over to our other live blog and follow all the action from across the Asian Games. See you there. Bye-bye!