After rain played spoilsport in Quarter Finals 1, India women qualified for the next round of the ongoing Asian Games 2022. It was pure heartbreak for Malaysia women as they didn’t get an opportunity to gun down the total set by India.
As India are higher seeded than Malaysia, the result was in favour of Malaysia. Before this game, Malaysia women had defeated Hong Kong women by 22 runs after a dominant performance.
Shafali Varma topped the batting charts for India
Indian swashbuckling opener Shafali Varma fired on all cylinders in the 1st innings and scored 67 runs in 39 deliveries. She was on fire and played exceedingly well against an ordinary bowling attack of Malaysia.
Her innings was laced with 4 fours and 5 sixes and she had a fabulous batting strike-rate of 171.79 in this innings.
Smriti Mandhana, who was the deputy captain in this game for India, started well but ultimately perished away for 27 runs by Mahirah Izzati Ismail. Jemimah Rodrigues then joined the party and smashed 47* runs in just 29 deliveries and her innings was packed with 6 fours.
Richa Ghosh had then activated her beast mode and powered India to a consummate finish. Ghosh’s blistering cameo was dotted with 3 fours and 1 six and that played a humongous role in pushing India to a competitive total of 173 runs.
The rain had shortened the game but 173 runs in 15 overs was always a big target set by Team India. Just when Malaysia women came out to bat and 2 balls were bowled, the rain came back again.
It was incessant rain and ultimately the umpires and match officials had to call off the game. India have qualified for the semi-finals of Asian Games 2022 and are strong favourites to lift the title.
The other 3 quarter-finals are still remaining. If Pakistan women wins their quarter finals against Indonesia women, we could see an India vs Pakistan game at the Asian Games 2022.
Squads
India Women
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Devika Vaidya, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Kanika Ahuja, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Bareddy Anusha, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Titas Sadhu
Malaysia Women
Ainna Hamizah Hashim, Winifred Duraisingam(c), Mas Elysa, Wan Julia(w), Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Aina Najwa, Jamahidaya Intan, Nur Arianna Natsya, Aisya Eleesa, Nur Dania Syuhada, Nik Nur Atiela, Musfirah Nur Ainaa, Ainur Amelina, Dhanusri Muhunan, Wan Nor Zulaika
Also read: Asian Games 2022: 3 Reasons Why Indian Women’s Team Might Win The Competition
