India, Sri Lanka storm into Asian Games women cricket semis

India women on Friday demolished Japan women by eight wickets in their Asian Games event quarter-final, racing to their modest target in just five overs to book their place in the semi-finals in Nisshin.

Chasing 58 for victory after Japan were bowled out for 57 in 19.5 overs, India made light work of the chase as opener Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 40 from only 15 balls.

Verma struck six fours and two sixes in a breathtaking assault.

Richa Ghosh added an unbeaten 12 from six balls, including two fours, as India reached 59 for two with 90 balls to spare.

Japan made a cautious start after being sent in to bat and struggled to build momentum against India's disciplined attack.

Ayaka Kato-Stafford top-scored for Japan with 25 from 47 balls, but the innings never gathered pace. Haruna Iwasaki contributed 10 while the remaining batters failed to reach double figures.

India's Shree Charani was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for ten runs from her four overs. Shafali also made an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets for 13 runs, while Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil took one each.

Japan lost wickets regularly after reaching 24 for two, slipping to 46 for four before collapsing to 57 all out in the final over.

Earlier in the third quarter-final at the same venue Sri Lanka demolished Malaysia by 86 runs thanks to a blistering fifty from captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Athapaththu smashed 63 from 37 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, as Sri Lanka posted 160 for four after electing to bat.

Kavisha Dilhari added an unbeaten 44 from 27 balls, while Harshitha Samarawickrama struck 25 from 18 to keep the scoreboard moving.

Malaysia struggled in reply, finishing at 74 for seven from their 20 overs. Winifred Duraisingam top-scored with 28 from 47 balls, while Mahirah Izzati Ismail made 24.

Sri Lanka's bowlers kept Malaysia under constant pressure, with Dilhari taking two wickets for four runs and Mithali Ayodhya claiming two for 15. Athapaththu also chipped in with two wickets for three runs.