 "Shafali Verma, Team India")
The Indian women's cricket team on Thursday entered the semifinal stage in Asian Games 2023, which is hosted by Hangzhou. The India vs Malaysia cricket match was called off after the second rain break, and Women in Blue entered the last 4 on virtue of higher seeding.
Malaysia put India to bat after winning the toss under the overcast conditions.
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Top knocks by Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues and a fiery cameo of 21 runs from Richa Ghosh propelled India to 173/2 against Malaysia in a rain-curtailed quarterfinal 1 match in the Hangzhou Asia Games here at Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field on Thursday.
Check Asian Games 2023 India matches and events live updates | 21st September
Check Asian Games 2023 India matches and events live updates | 21st September
In the last over Richa smoked three boundaries and one maximum to guide India to a formidable total of 173/2 in a match that was reduced to 15 over-per-side after a rain delay.
Both Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were in the thick of action after a quiet start in the first over. The Indian star duo dealt in boundaries against Malaysia.
Asian Games 2023: India vs Malaysia women's cricket Playing XIs
India full scorecard
| BATTING | Dismissals | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike rate |
| Smriti Mandhana (c) | c Ainna Hamizah Hashim b Mahirah Izzati Ismail | 27 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 168.75 |
| Shafali Verma | lbw b Mas Elysa | 67 | 39 | 4 | 5 | 171.79 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | not out | 47 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 162.06 |
| Richa Ghosh † | not out | 21 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 300 |
| Extras | (nb 1, w 10) | 11 | ||||
| TOTAL | 15 Ov (RR: 11.53) | 173-2 | ||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s |
| Ainna Hamizah Hashim | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| Mahirah Izzati Ismail | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 | 3 |
| Winifred Duraisingam | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Aisya Eleesa | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| Nur Dania Syuhada | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 14.5 | 1 |
| Nur Arianna Natsya | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Mas Elysa | 2 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 13 |
3 |
Asian Games 2023: India vs Malaysia women's cricket Playing XIs
Malaysia Women (Playing XI): Ainna Hamizah Hashim, Winifred Duraisingam(c), Mas Elysa, Wan Julia(w), Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Aina Najwa, Wan Nor Zulaika, Nur Arianna Natsya, Aisya Eleesa, Nur Dania Syuhada, Nik Nur Atiela
India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana(c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Kanika Ahuja, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Minnu Mani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
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Meanwhile, both men's and women's football team will be in action as well later in the day. It is going to be a must-win game for men's team after losing their Asiad 2023 opener against China. India women's football team will begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei.
In the 6th over Mahirah Izzati Ismail removed well-set batter Mandhana for 27. Mandhana holed out to Ainna Hamizah Hashim at backward point.
The right-handed batter Jemimah Rodrigues then came out.
Shafali slammed back-to-back boundaries of Nur Dania Syuhada. The India opener continued to target the midwicket area.
Shafali and Rodrigues slammed Malaysian bowlers all around the ground to take India past the 100-run mark in the 10th over.
Shafali brought up her fifty in style as she hammered Winifred Duraisingam for two sixes and one four in the 11th over of the game. She got her half-century in just 31 deliveries.
Shafali was on song as she was getting the boundaries at will.
The 86-run partnership was broken as Mas Elysa provided her team the big wicket of Shafali. The Indian opener went back to the pavilion after scoring 67 runs.
Richa Ghosh then came out and the batter opened her tally by smoking Mas Elysa for three boundaries and one six, gathering 20 runs in the last over. Richa's blistering cameo helped India post a target of 173/2.
With ANI inputs
