Shafali Verma Leads the Charge as India Book Sixth T20 Asia Cup Final Spot

A brilliant knock from Shafali Verma (64 off 40) and disciplined bowling set up India to secure a 40-run victory over Bangladesh in the Womenโ€™s Asia Cup 2026 semifinal in Dubai.

With this win, India marched into their sixth final in six editions of the Womenโ€™s Asia Cup. After being invited to bat first, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma opened the innings while Marufa Akter opened the bowling attack.

Sultana Khatun bagged the first wicket, dismissing Smriti Mandhana for 2 runs. With Shafali Verma and Pratika Rawal at the crease, India went on to score 45 runs in the powerplay.

Rabeya Khan bagged the wicket of Pratika Rawal for 20 runs, while Shafali Verma smashed fifty and went on to score 64 runs off 40 deliveries.

Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma added 24 and 21 runs respectively before their dismissals. With Harmanpreet Kaurโ€™s unbeaten 24 runs, India went on to score 149 runs in 20 overs.

Sultana Khatun bagged two wickets while Marufa Akter, Nahida Akter and Rabeya Khan bagged one wicket each.

Chasing 150 runs, Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous opened the innings while Kranti Gaud opened the bowling attack.

Shree Charani bagged the first wicket, dismissing Ferdous for 14 runs. With Dilara Akter and Sobhana Mostary at the crease, Bangladesh women went on to score 26 runs in the powerplay.

Deepti Sharma bagged the wickets of Dilara Akter and Sobhana Mostary for 21 and 18 runs, respectively.

Nigar Sultana, who came to bat at No. 4, scored 19 runs before Prema Rawat sent her back to the dugout, and Bangladesh lost 4 wickets for 76 runs.

Sharmin Akter, Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan got dismissed cheaply while Shorna Akter added 22* runs as the side scored 109 runs in their 20-over innings.

Deepti Sharma bagged three wickets while Nandani Sharma bagged two wickets. Shafali Verma was named player of the match.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Verma said, โ€œYeah, thereโ€™s lots of humidity out there and even in the middle also; sometimes I canโ€™t even breathe, so I just try to inhale, exhale more and just at the start, I didnโ€™t get those balls, but Iโ€™m just trying to play, and thereโ€™s a bit of a chance with the crease. Iโ€™m just trying to build my innings, so just this thing happened.โ€

Leave a Comment