In the ongoing Asian Games 2023, the Indian women’s cricket team secured a victory over Sri Lanka in the final match, clinching the gold medal with a 19-run lead. This achievement marked India’s second gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games.
Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss for India and opted to bat first in the final. Opener Shafali Varma was the first to fall, departing with Sugandika Kumari picking up her first wicket of the day. Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues then stitched a crucial 73-run stand to get India back in the game.
However, Mandhana fell short of completing her 23rd T20I half-century, being dismissed by Inoka Ranaweera after scoring 46 runs off 45 balls, smashing five boundaries and a solitary six.
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India Clinches Second Gold at Asian Games 2023
Rodrigues scored 42 runs off 40 deliveries but was not supported by her teammates as wickets kept tumbling around her. Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet, Pooja Vastrakar and Amanjot Kaur came and went without moving the scoreboard much.
From a position of 102 for 3 after 16.4 overs, India managed to post 116 for 7 on the scoreboard after 20 overs. Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari and Ranaweera were the pick of the Lankan bowlers, claiming two wickets each.
India started the second innings on the front foot, picking up three early wickets. Titas Sadhu struck with the new ball, dismissing both openers Chamari Athapaththu and Anushka Sanjeewani, while also cleaning up Vishmi Gunaratne, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 14 for 3 in 4.2 overs.
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Sri Lanka’s Late Surge Falls Short
However, Hasini Perera and Nilakshi de Silva formed an important 36-run stand to bring Sri Lanka back into the game. Perera scored 25 runs off 22 balls before being dismissed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad. De Silva was the next to fall as Vastrakar castled her after scoring 23 runs off 34 deliveries.
Oshadi Ranasinghe was the next to fall as India upped the ante with some brilliant bowling from Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya. Sri Lanka ended their innings with 97 for 8 on the board after 20 overs, falling short by 19 runs.
Sadhu was the pick of the bowlers for India, claiming three wickets while giving away six runs in four overs. With this, India won their second gold medal at the ongoing Asian Games 2023.