India women opener Shafali Verma became the first-ever Indian batter, male or female, to record a half-century in the Asian Games when she cracked a thunderous fifty against Malaysia Women in the quarter-final of the Asian Games 2023 match.
India women’s campaign in the Asian Games 2023 kick-started directly with the Quarter-final round on Thursday morning at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou, China.
Courtesy of Shafali Verma’s breathtaking half-century, and other contributions, India piled up 173/2 in 15 overs. The match was first reduced to 15-over per side because of rain. Then only after 2 balls in Malaysia Women’s innings, rain arrived and no more play was possible. This meant that the match was washed out and India were advanced to the semi-final because of having higher seeding than their opponents, Malaysia.
In the Quarter-final 2, Pakistan women’s match against Indonesia women was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. Same as India, Pakistan advanced to the semi-final, on account of having higher seeding than Indonesia.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have been given direct entries in the Quarter-final and have higher seeding than their opponents. Sri Lanka will face Thailand women and Bangladesh will face Hong Kong women on Friday.
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Shafali Verma becomes first Indian to hit half-century in Asian Games
This Asian Games 2023 is the first time the BCCI has sent its teams, both men’s and women’s, in the Asian Games. Cricket was part of the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games as well, but the BCCI didn’t send their teams then.
So, when Shafali Verma cracked a sizzling fifty, she became the first Indian to hit a fifty in the Asian Games.
The 19-year-old from Haryana smashed 67 runs in only 39 balls with the help of 4 fours and 5 sixes. From the other end, Smriti Mandhana – who is leading the side as Harmanpreet Kaur is banned for two matches – scored 27 off 16.
Jemimah Rodrigues (47* off 29 balls) and Richar Ghosh (21* off 7 balls) gave India the finishing touches to propel the score to 173/2.
In the semi-finals, India will meet the winner of Bangladesh vs Hong Kong and Pakistan will meet the winner of Sri Lanka vs Thailand. This could setup for an India vs Pakistan final as well in the Asian Games 2023.
