Defending gold medalists India stormed into the Asian Games women's cricket semifinals on Friday, securing a commanding eight-wicket victory over an inexperienced Japan side.
A disciplined performance by the Indian spinners led by left-arm spinner Charani (4/10) and off-spinner Shafali Verma (2/13) shot Japan out for a paltry 57. India needed just five overs to chase down the total, setting up a semifinal clash with Bangladesh on September 20.
Opting to bowl, India never allowed the Japanese batters to free their arms on a surface offering pronounced turn and bounce. Japan struggled to force the pace throughout their innings, managing just three boundaries in total. The initial Power Play yielded only 24 runs and saw just two fours, one coming off an edge through the slips.
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Charani, continuing her recent red-hot form in the format, recorded her best T20 figures. She dealt a double blow in the seventh over by dismissing opener Haruna Iwasaki (10) and Japanese skipper Mai Yanagida off consecutive deliveries.
Shafali added to Japan's misery in the second half of the innings, removing Ayaka Kato-Stafford, who top-scored for Japan with 25, and Shimako Kato in the 15th and 17th overs as both fell attempting aerial shots. Complemented by two run-outs stemming from poor running coordination between the wickets, Japan’s innings quickly folded.
India made quick work of the pygmy-sized target. Shafali led the charge with an unbeaten 15-ball 40, while Richa Ghosh chipped in with 12 off six balls to take India home without much fuss.
Despite defending a low target, the spirited Japanese team celebrated enthusiastically when they managed to dismiss Indian opener Gunalan Kamalini and one-down batter Bharti Fulmali. However, enthusiasm alone proved insufficient against the sheer quality of Shafali and Ghosh, who sealed the comprehensive win.
