Shree Charani’s 4/10 and Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 40 helped India beat Japan by eight wickets and reach the 2026 Asian Games women’s cricket semifinals.
India’s women’s cricket team reached the 2026 Asian Games semifinals with an eight-wicket win over hosts Japan on September 18. Shree Charani took four wickets for 10 runs before Shafali Verma struck an unbeaten 40 from 15 balls to finish the chase in five overs.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Japan Women | 57 all out in 19.5 overs |
| India Women | 59/2 in 5 overs |
India chose to bowl in the quarterfinal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Charani’s left-arm spin proved decisive: she dismissed opener Haruna Iwasaki and captain Mai Yanagida off successive deliveries in the seventh over. Shafali then took 2/13 as Japan struggled to build an innings. Ayaka Kato-Stafford was Japan’s leading scorer with 25. The Indian Express reported the bowling figures and key dismissals.
Japan gave themselves two moments of encouragement in the chase, removing Gunalan Kamalini and Bharti Fulmali. Shafali kept India moving quickly, however, and Richa Ghosh joined her to finish unbeaten on 12. Shafali sealed the victory with a six. The match scorecard records India’s win with 90 balls remaining.
India, the defending women’s cricket champions, will face Bangladesh in the semifinal on Sunday, September 20. Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet in the other semifinal.
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