Image Source- AFP
On paper, it was an epic mismatch, and Malaysia made
little effort to prove it incorrect on the pitch. In the end, India easily
advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Games women’s cricket competition in
Hangzhou because to higher seeding after the game was called off due to rain
two balls into Malaysia’s difficult chase.
Being put in to bat with rain in the forecast, India
showed their strength from the first ball. In a rain-shortened 15-overs-a-side
match that Shafali Verma won with 67, Smriti Mandhana’s early grace gave way to
her savagery. Jemimah Rodrigues lent her own signature touch game to the
innings to make an unbeaten 47 as India blasted 171 for 2, including 113 off
9.2 overs after the rain break.
The final touches were provided by Richa Ghosh, who
wasn’t on the Bangladesh tour and came in with a cameo 21 not out off only
seven deliveries. In the last over against medium pacer Mas Elysa, she hammered
18 off those, including three fours and a six, with the highlight being a
bottom-handed sweep inside-out over extra cover off a yorker-length delivery.
When Shafali was struck by a Rodrigues cross-batted
swat at the non-striker’s end, there was a short flutter in the Indian camp
late in the game, with grins giving way to sincere anxiety. It caused the
physio to be called in to treat her. After quickly resuming play, Shafali was
eventually sent out leg before wicket by Elysa playing over the line in the
13th over.
Malaysia failed to put three consecutive runs together
even once during the innings, and the only respite they experienced was when
Mandhana was bowled. In the sixth over from medium pacer Mahirah Ismail, she
was early onto a draw that she was able to lob to point off a leading edge
despite being pressed for space.
If Bangladesh defeats Hong Kong in their quarterfinal
match later in the afternoon, they could potentially face India in the
semifinal. Given the previous history between the two teams, that presents a
tempting potential for Mandhana’s team (Harmanpreet Kaur will miss the game
owing to a two-match suspension).