Shafali Verma produced a historic performance on Sunday, September 20, as India stormed into the final of the Asian Games women’s cricket competition with a massive 114-run victory over Bangladesh. The Indian opener became the first batter to score a century in a women’s T20I in Japan, scoring an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls. Her explosive innings helped India post 195/4 after choosing to bat first.
Before Shafali’s record-breaking knock, the highest women’s T20I score in Japan was Natasha Miles’ unbeaten 86 for Hong Kong against Japan in 2022.
Shafali Verma also created another major record by becoming the first woman to score a century in the Asian Games. Earlier on Sunday, Chamari Athapaththu had scored an unbeaten 83 against Pakistan in the first semi-final, which was the previous highest individual score by a woman in the history of the competition.
The century came in Shafali’s 118th appearance for India. She dominated the Bangladesh bowlers, smashing nine sixes and three boundaries during her unbeaten 100. Her nine sixes were the joint-second-most by a batter in a women’s T20I innings. Only Laura Agatha of Brazil, who hit 11 sixes against Mexico in 2024, has hit more.
Shafali Verma’s century was also only the fourth T20I hundred by an Indian batter. She received valuable support from experienced players Smriti Mandhana, who scored 37, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 40. Shafali’s nine sixes also set a new record for an Indian batter in a women’s T20I innings. She went past Harmanpreet Kaur’s previous record of eight sixes against New Zealand in the 2018 T20 World Cup.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave India a flying start, putting together 72 runs for the opening wicket. Both the batters attacked the Bangladesh bowling from the beginning and kept the pressure on the opposition.
India also created a team record by hitting 12 sixes in the innings, the most by any team in a women’s T20I. The previous record of 11 sixes was jointly held by the West Indies against Ireland in 2019 and Brazil against Mexico in 2024.
Shafali Verma’s explosive century, combined with strong contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, powered India to a huge win and booked their place in the Asian Games final.
All the best to the Indian women’s cricket team for the Asian Games final!
