Nisshin, Japan, September 18 (Sports Desk)
2026: India produced a dominant performance in the 4th Quarter-Final of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026, defeating Japan by 8 wickets at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.
After winning the toss, India elected to bowl first and bowled Japan out for just 57 runs in 19.5 overs. India then chased down the target in only 5 overs, finishing at 59/2. Match Details
- Tournament: Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026
- Match: 4th Quarter-Final
- Date: September 18, 2026
- Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
- Format: Women’s T20
- Toss: India won the toss and elected to bowl
- Japan: 57 all out in 19.5 overs
- India: 59/2 in 5 overs
- Result: India won by 8 wickets
Japan Bowled Out for 57
Japan struggled to build a substantial total against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Ayaka Kato Stafford was Japan’s top scorer with 25 runs from 47 balls, while Haruna Iwasaki contributed 10 from 22 balls.
After the opening partnership survived the initial powerplay, India’s bowlers steadily dismantled the Japanese batting order.
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Japan Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Ayaka Kato Stafford | 25 | 47 |
| Haruna Iwasaki | 10 | 22 |
| Erika Oda | 5 | 14 |
| Ayumi Fujikawa* | 4 | 6 |
| Shimako Kato | 3 | 10 |
| Akari Nishimura | 2 | 9 |
| Hinase Goto | 1 | 1 |
| Mai Yanagida | 0 | 1 |
| Ahilya Chandel | 0 | 2 |
| Erika Toguchi-Quinn | 0 | 2 |
| Nonoha Yasumoto | 0 | 5 |
| Extras | 7 | |
| Total | 57 all out | 19.5 overs |
Only two Japanese batters reached double figures, with Kato Stafford’s 25 accounting for a significant portion of the team’s total.
Sree Charani Leads India’s Bowling Attack
India’s bowlers kept Japan under constant pressure, with Sree Charani delivering the outstanding figures of 4 wickets for just 10 runs in four overs.
She also bowled two maiden overs, making her spell particularly economical.
India Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sree Charani | 4 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
| Shafali Verma | 4 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| Shreyanka Patil | 3.5 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Deepti Sharma | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Nandni Sharma | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Kranti Gaud | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Shafali Verma also made an important contribution with the ball, taking 2/13, before playing an even bigger role in India’s run chase.
Shafali Verma Smashes 40* off 15 Balls
India needed only 58 runs to win, and the chase was completed in spectacular fashion.
Although India lost G Kamalini for 0 and Bharti Fulmali for 6, there was no further trouble as Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh finished the game quickly.
Shafali was particularly destructive, smashing an unbeaten 40 off just 15 deliveries.
Her innings included:
- 6 fours
- 2 sixes
- 40 runs*
- 15 balls
- Strike rate: 266.67
India Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma* | 40 | 15 | 6 | 2 |
| Richa Ghosh* | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Bharti Fulmali | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| G Kamalini | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 1 | |||
| Total | 59/2 | 5 overs |
India reached 59/2 in only five overs, completing an emphatic eight-wicket victory.
Shafali’s All-Round Contribution
Shafali Verma was one of the key performers of the match.
She first helped restrict Japan with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 13 runs, and then produced a blistering unbeaten 40 with the bat.
Her combined contribution:
Bowling: 4 overs, 13 runs, 2 wickets
Batting: 40* off 15 balls
🇯🇵 Japan Also Made History
The quarter-final was significant for Japan as it gave the team an opportunity to face India in women’s international T20 cricket.
Japan also managed to claim two Indian wickets during the chase.
Nonoha Yasumoto dismissed G Kamalini, while Ayaka Kato Stafford removed Bharti Fulmali. India, however, quickly closed out the match through Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh.
India Through to the Semi-Final
With the victory, India advanced to the semi-final of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026.
India will face Bangladesh in the semi-final on September 20, 2026.
The other semi-final will feature:
Pakistan 🇵🇰 vs Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
Final Score
Japan Women — 57 all out (19.5 overs)
India Women — 59/2 (5 overs)
Result
🇮🇳 India Women won by 8 wickets
Key Performers
🏏 Shafali Verma: 40* off 15 balls & 2/13
🎯 Sree Charani: 4/10
🏏 Ayaka Kato Stafford: 25 for Japan
🏆 India advance to the semi-final
