India produced a dominant performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nisshin, securing the country’s first gold medal in the women’s cricket competition.
After choosing to bat first, India posted a formidable 216 for 3, the highest total in Asian Games women’s cricket. Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a brilliant 79 from 45 balls, while Richa Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49 from just 22 deliveries. Shafali Verma also made an important contribution with 48.
Sri Lanka struggled throughout their chase and were bowled out for only 69 in 15.5 overs. Chamari Athapaththu was their top scorer with 29 from 21 balls, but India’s spin attack proved far too strong as Deepti Sharma finished with excellent figures of 3 for 6.
India made an explosive start after opting to bat. Mandhana and Shafali put together a commanding 99-run opening partnership, immediately putting Sri Lanka under pressure.
Mandhana was particularly aggressive during the powerplay. She struck boundaries against Sugandika Kumari before hitting three sixes in quick succession. Shafali also joined the attack, clearing the boundary twice against Athapaththu.
India raced to 67 without loss after six overs, setting the foundation for a huge total.
Mandhana reached her half-century from just 30 balls, but Shafali narrowly missed out on her own fifty. She was dismissed for 48 off 29 balls after top-edging Chamudi Praboda to short third.
Harmanpreet Kaur then contributed 19 from 17 balls before Mandhana continued to accelerate. The opener eventually fell for 79, but India had plenty of firepower still to come.
Richa Ghosh took over the scoring duties and launched an aggressive assault in the final overs. She struck boundaries against Praboda before accelerating further towards the end of the innings.
Ghosh smashed two fours and a six in an over from Kawya Kavindi before hitting two more sixes against Mithali Ayodhya. Her unbeaten 49 off 22 balls helped India finish on 216 for 3.
Sri Lanka needed an extraordinary start to have any chance of chasing the target, but India’s bowlers quickly took control.
Shafali Verma struck twice early in the innings. She first deceived Imesha Dulani in flight, with Ghosh completing the stumping, before dismissing Hasini Perera in her next over.
Athapaththu briefly offered resistance, but Deepti Sharma ended her stay in the seventh over when she miscued to long-off.
India then unleashed their spin attack. Shreyanka Patil dismissed Harshitha Samarawickrama for a duck, while N Shree Charani removed Hansima Karunaratne.
Deepti added another wicket when Kavisha Dilhari returned a catch to the bowler, leaving Sri Lanka six wickets down and with virtually no chance of challenging India’s huge total.
Sri Lanka eventually folded for just 69, with India taking wickets at regular intervals. Deepti finished with 3 for 6, while Shafali, Shree Charani and Patil claimed two wickets each.
The victory secured India’s gold medal and continued their dominance in the Asian Games women’s cricket competition. It also gave India back-to-back gold medals after their triumph in the previous edition in 2023.
The result was particularly significant because Sri Lanka had also lost to India in the Women’s Asia Cup final just ten days earlier. India’s comprehensive victory in Nisshin once again underlined the gap between the two sides on the day.
