Hangzhou: Shafali Verma smashed her maiden T20I century as reigning champions India stormed into the women’s cricket final at the Asian Games with a crushing 114-run victory over Bangladesh on Sunday.

The emphatic win secured India at least a silver medal and took the country’s medal tally at the continental showpiece to four. India had already won two silver medals in shooting and secured a bronze in mixed martial arts before the women’s cricket team entered the gold-medal match.

After opting to bat, India posted a formidable 195 for four, powered by an unbeaten 100 from Shafali off just 49 balls. Bangladesh struggled to mount a response and were bowled out for 81 in 15.4 overs.

The result was India’s second-biggest victory by runs against Bangladesh in women’s T20Is.

Shafali produces a landmark century

Shafali was at her aggressive best from the beginning, smashing nine sixes and three fours during her unbeaten 100.

The century came in her 118th T20I appearance for India and became her first hundred in the shortest format. It was also only the fourth T20I century by an Indian women’s batter.

Shafali’s innings combined power hitting with remarkable consistency as she repeatedly cleared the boundary against the Bangladesh attack. She reached three figures in the final over of India’s innings to cap a dominant batting display.

Her innings also provided the foundation for India’s imposing total after the team had made a rapid start.

Mandhana and Shafali put India in control

India’s opening pair of Shafali and Smriti Mandhana immediately put Bangladesh under pressure.

The duo raced to 72 runs for the first wicket, attacking the bowlers throughout the powerplay and matching each other stroke for stroke.

Mandhana eventually fell for 37 when Nahida Akter induced a false stroke, with wicketkeeper Sobhana Mostary completing the catch.

Despite her dismissal, Mandhana also reached a significant milestone during the innings. Her 37 took her past New Zealand great Suzie Bates’ tally of 4,758 runs, making her the leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is at that stage.

India’s No. 3 Gunalan Kamalini could manage only three runs from 10 balls before being dismissed, but Shafali continued to accelerate.

Harmanpreet provides crucial support

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played an important supporting role as India strengthened their position in the second half of the innings.

Harmanpreet scored 40 from 33 balls, finding the gaps effectively while allowing Shafali to maintain the attacking tempo at the other end.

The pair added 94 runs from only 55 balls, a partnership that effectively took the game away from Bangladesh before the innings entered its final stages.

Shafali then completed her century in the last over to take India to 195 for four.

Bangladesh collapse under India’s bowling attack

The Bangladesh chase never gathered momentum as India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals.

Opener Dilara Akter provided the only substantial resistance, scoring 27 from 23 balls with four fours and a six.

However, four of Bangladesh’s top six batters were dismissed for single-digit scores, leaving the chase in serious trouble.

Bangladesh eventually lost all their wickets for 81 in 15.4 overs, falling well short of India’s target.

Nandani Sharma was among India’s most effective bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 25 from her four overs. She also came close to claiming a hat-trick during the 11th over.

India face Sri Lanka in gold-medal match

India will now meet Sri Lanka in Tuesday’s gold-medal match, setting up a repeat of the previous edition’s final.

The two teams also met in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final last Sunday, when India recorded a 72-run victory over Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka booked their place in the Asian Games final by defeating Pakistan by eight wickets in the first semifinal on Sunday.

Pakistan and Bangladesh will now contest the bronze-medal match in the first women’s cricket fixture on Tuesday.

India’s victory over Bangladesh has therefore ensured another medal for the country while setting up a familiar final against Sri Lanka. With Shafali producing a landmark century and the bowlers completing a comprehensive defence of 195, India head into the gold-medal match with momentum on their side.