IND W vs SL W Final: India has opened its gold medal account at the 2026 Asian Games. The Indian women's cricket team clinched the gold medal by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. This marks India's first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women's cricket final. Batting first, the Indian women's cricket team posted the highest-ever score in the Asian Games. In response, the Sri Lankan team did not even come close to the target set by India.
Sri Lanka lost by a margin greater than the runs they scored
In the women's cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games, India set a target of 217 runs for Sri Lanka. In response, the Sri Lankan team fell well short of even the 100-run mark.
Chasing the target of 217, Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 69 runs. Consequently, they lost by a margin larger than the total runs they had scored; India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs.
India Retains Gold Medal
This marks the second consecutive gold medal for India's women's cricket team at the Asian Games. India had also won the gold at the previous Asian Games by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
India's spinners played a pivotal role in securing the gold medal, keeping the Sri Lankan batters tied up in their web of spin.
Indian Spinners Shine in the Final
The Indian women's team utilized six bowlers in the Asian Games final four of whom were spinners and these four claimed all of Sri Lanka's wickets. Deepti Sharma led the Indian attack, taking three wickets, while Shafali, Shreyanka, and Sricharani claimed two wickets each.
Sri Lanka's batting lineup crumbled under the onslaught of the Indian spinners; only three batters managed to reach double figures. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was the top scorer with 29 runs, but she fell victim to Deepti Sharma just as she had in the Asia Cup final.
India's explosive batting before dismantling Sri Lanka
In the women's cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games, the Indian team displayed explosive batting before Sri Lanka's collapse. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma combined to add 99 runs for the opening wicket.
Shafali was dismissed after scoring 48 runs off 20 balls. Smriti Mandhana was the top scorer for India, amassing 79 runs off 45 balls with the help of seven sixes. Additionally, Richa Ghosh came in towards the end and scored an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls.
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