The two sides made emphatic starts to their campaigns at the Asian Games to set up a repeat of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup semi-final line-up.Day 2 of the women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games saw Sri Lanka and India secure their places in the semi-finals with convincing wins over Malaysia and Japan respectively.
Sri Lanka began their Asian Games campaign with an 86-run victory over Malaysia, with Chamari Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari leading the way with the bat before Sri Lanka’s bowlers completed a dominant all-round performance.
Fresh from reaching the final of the Women’s Asia Cup, Sri Lanka were expected to have too much firepower for Malaysia, although they were given an early reminder not to take anything for granted when Imesha Dulani was run out for 2 in the third over.
Athapaththu quickly settled Sri Lanka, joining Hasini Perera for an 80-run second-wicket partnership from just 53 balls.After the pair departed, Dilhari continued the momentum alongside Harshitha Samarawickrama, striking an unbeaten 44 from 27 balls in a 62-run partnership that came from 37 deliveries.
Athapaththu finished as Sri Lanka’s leading scorer with 63 from 37 balls, while Dilhari’s unbeaten 44 helped Sri Lanka build a total of 160/4.
Nurin Imanina provided Malaysia with a bright spot with the ball, taking 3 for 29 from her four overs. She claimed all three of Malaysia’s wickets to fall to a bowler.
Malaysia’s chase quickly came under pressure as they lost three wickets inside the powerplay. Dilhari added two wickets to her batting contribution, finishing with 2 for 4 from three overs, while Athapaththu took 2 for 3 from two and Mithali Ayodhya returned 2 for 15 from three.There was some resistance from Malaysia, with Winifred Duraisingam making 28 from 47 balls and Mahirah Izzati Ismail scoring 24 from 42, but Sri Lanka remained firmly in control to complete an 86-run victory.
The win sends Sri Lanka into the semi-finals, where they will face Pakistan on September 20.
India also booked their place in the semi-finals with a strong eight-wicket victory over hosts Japan, chasing down 58 inside five overs after bowling the hosts out for 57.
Having won the toss and elected to field, India immediately brought their quality in the spin department into the contest.
Japan made a positive start, putting together a 24-run opening partnership, but wickets began to fall soon after. Ayaka Kato-Stafford top-scored with 25 and looked the most assured of Japan’s batters, but India’s bowlers kept the pressure on and eventually dismissed the hosts for 57.
Sree Charani was the standout bowler, taking 4 for 10 from her four overs. After conceding nine runs in her opening over, Charani gave away just one run across her remaining three overs.She sent down 20 dot balls from her 24 deliveries, repeatedly landing the ball in good areas and maintaining a rhythm. It was another impressive performance following her strong showing at the Women’s Asia Cup.
Charani was well supported by the rest of India’s spin attack. Shafali Verma claimed 2 for 13, taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries and briefly threatening a hat-trick, while Deepti Sharma finished with 1 for 14 and returning spinner Shreyanka Patil took 1 for 8.
India shuffled their opening combination for the chase, sending G Kamalini out alongside Shafali Verma. Kamalini’s stay was brief, however, as she was dismissed for a two-ball duck.
Verma ensured there was little further drama, smashing an unbeaten 40 from just 15 balls, including six fours and two sixes.She finished the chase in style, clearing her front leg and launching Kato-Stafford over long-on for six as India reached their target in just five overs.
India’s victory sets up a semi-final against Bangladesh on September 20.
For Japan, the result provided valuable experience against one of the leading sides in women’s cricket, with their opening partnership and contributions with the ball and in the field offering positives on a landmark day in front of their home crowd.
source -ICC
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