Magnificent Mandhana's 79 helps India to Asian Games cricket gold

NAGOYA: Smriti Mandhana's explosive 79-ball innings proved decisive as India claimed a 147-run victory over Sri Lanka and secured their second consecutive women's cricket gold medal at the Asian Games on Tuesday. India posted the highest women's total in Asian Games history, scoring 216-3 off their 20 overs, which included 18 fours and 13 sixes.

Richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali contributed 25 runs off the final over, as Mithali Ayodhya conceded eight wides. Sri Lanka never posed a challenge, falling for 69 in 15.4 overs, with captain Chamari Athapaththu's 29 being their sole notable innings. Mandhana, who holds the record for the most runs in women's T20 cricket, smashed seven sixes and five fours in her 45-ball knock, sending the ball to various parts of the Korogi Athletic Park ground in Nagoya.

After India won the toss and chose to bat, Shafali Verma, who had scored a century in the semi-final, and Mandhana formed a blistering opening partnership, reaching 99 in the 10th over. However, Verma's rash reverse sweep saw her dismissed for 48 off 29 balls, allowing Mandhana to continue unimpeded. The pair pushed the score to 141, with Harmanpreet Kaur joining Mandhana before the captain was run out at long-off for 19.

Mandhana, intent on accelerating further, was out in the 17th over while attempting a six, having reached 163. Ghosh smashed 49 off 22 balls, with three sixes and six fours, enabling India to surpass 200 in the final over. Earlier, Pakistan's Fatima Sana's late-order hitting helped them secure a 31-run win over Bangladesh in the bronze medal match.

Sana arrived at 67-5 in the 12th over but added 45 runs off 30 balls, including three fours and three sixes, before being caught off the last ball. Her 67-run partnership with Aliya Riaz (25) for the sixth wicket proved pivotal, as Bangladesh managed only 114-7 in reply.