JPN-W vs IND-W Ball by Ball Commentary

JPN-W

57/10(19.5 ov)

IND-W

59/2(5.0 ov)

India Women beat Japan Women by 8 wickets

Commentary

India Women

7:20 AM IST On to the semis - A thoroughly one-sided contest, and India stamped their authority to cruise into the semifinals. With that, the expected four teams are through to the next stage. Sri Lanka Women take on Pakistan Women in the first semifinal, while India Women face Bangladesh Women in the second. The winners will advance to the final, in this case, the gold medal match, with the losers left to contest for the bronze. Both semifinals take place on Sunday, 20th September, with the first scheduled to begin at 12 am GMT (5.30 am IST) and the second following at 5 am GMT (10.30 am IST). Until then, cheers!

7:10 AM IST A quick word with Sree Charani - Charani says she is enjoying her time in Japan and feels it is a great experience to be here and be part of the Asian Games. On her bowling, Charani says she has simply focused on sticking to her strengths and trying to get the ball to spin. Asked if she has had any time to look around Japan, Charani says the team took some rest following the Asia Cup final and the subsequent travel. She adds that they came in early today and went through their usual routines, having not had any practice coming into this game.

7:12 AM IST A day to remember, regardless of the scoreline - Every run drew a cheer from the Japanese faithful at the venue, with the occasion itself meaning more than the result against a heavyweight side like India. Little was expected of them, but Japan made a promising start. Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato Stafford put on 24 for the first wicket. Boundaries were hard to come by, but credit where it's due, the running between the wickets was sharp and proactive, with several twos picked up. They were the only two to reach double figures, though, and once both fell, the rest of the batting crumbled in a hurry, with Japan bowled out for a paltry 57. It was total spin domination from India Women. Sree Charani continued her fine run of form with a sensational four-wicket haul, Shafali Verma chipped in with two, and Deepti Sharma and Patil picked up one apiece to complete the rout.

7:15 AM IST Shafali steps up again - To their credit, Japan managed a couple of early wickets even defending as modest a total as 57. The bowling itself was far from threatening, and some slack has to be cut for the hosts there given the inexperience. But it was reckless shot selection more than anything from the likes of G Kamalini and Bharti Fulmali, who threw their wickets away. Both were handed a golden chance to finish things off themselves, and neither took it. It needed a Shafali Verma special instead, and she duly delivered, timing the ball beautifully and finding the gaps at will. Her belligerent 40 off 15 was more than enough to get India home.

7:20 AM IST Bossed up and how! Clinical with the ball, commanding with the bat, India Women have sauntered to a massive win, chasing the total down inside the Powerplay itself. They have also qualified for the semi-final with ease, where they will face Bangladesh Women. Good scenes from the middle as Shafali and Richa share a warm hug before crossing over to greet the Japanese players. The players of Japan Women take a lap of the ground too, bowing to the crowd in each stand as a mark of gratitude for the support shown.

End of over 520 runs

IND-W: 59/2CRR: 11.80

Ball

Shafali Verma:40 (15)

Richa Ghosh:12 (6)

Shimako Kato:1-0-20-0

4.6

Shimako Kato to Shafali Verma, 6 runs

SIX! High and handsome. Shafali Verma hits the winning runs. India romp home in 5 overs and book their place in the semis. Kato floats it up there, right in the slot, on off. Verma clears her front leg and holds her shape, tonking it well beyond the long on fence for a biggie.

4.5

Shimako Kato to Richa Ghosh, 1 run

Low full toss, on off. Ghosh just eases it to deep cover and gets to the other end.

4.4

Shimako Kato to Richa Ghosh, 4 runs

FOUR! Powered away. Kato errs in both line and length, outside off. Ghosh collapses her back knee and extends her hands as she slams it wide of long off. Ayaka Kato Stafford sprints to her left and dives, but her effort goes in vain. India go past 50 in 4.4 overs, and they need 6 more runs.

50 Runs for the teamIndia Women

Runs: 52/2

4.3

Shimako Kato to Shafali Verma, 1 run

Bowled on a back of a length, outside off. Verma throws her hands at the ball, looking to force it through the off side. Chops it wide of cover, and the batters pick up a single.

4.2

Shimako Kato to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

FOUR MORE! Back of a length, outside off, skidding through. Verma waits for the ball to arrive, deliberately opens the bat face and threads the backward point and short third gap expertly for a boundary.

Shafali Verma

Runs: 33(13)SR: 253.85

4.1

Shimako Kato to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

FOUR! Belligerent! A loose half-tracker outside off, Shafali Verma weighs back and steers it between cover and cover-point for a boundary.

6:50 AM IST A change in bowling as Shimako Kato comes on.

End of over 48 runs

IND-W: 39/2CRR: 9.75RRR: 1.18

Ball

Shafali Verma:25 (11)

Richa Ghosh:7 (4)

Nonoha Yasumoto:2-1-8-1

3.6

Nonoha Yasumoto to Shafali Verma, 1 run

Had to hurry! Dragged back in length and around leg, worked away to the left of mid on, where the fielder dives full stretch for a superb stop. Both batters try to sneak through for a quick single, and there's a shy at the bowler's end, but the throw drifts wide of the target. They cross.

3.5

Nonoha Yasumoto to Richa Ghosh, 1 run

Another overpitched delivery and Ghosh drags it wide of mid on for a single.

3.4

Nonoha Yasumoto to Shafali Verma, 1 run

Very full and outside off, almost a yorker. Verma drives it along the turf to long off for a single.

3.3

Nonoha Yasumoto to Shafali Verma, no run

Full on the stumps, eased down to mid on.

3.2

Nonoha Yasumoto to Richa Ghosh, 1 run

Fuller in length, on off, Ghosh drives it to the left of mid off for a single.

3.1

Nonoha Yasumoto to Richa Ghosh, 4 runs

FOUR! Firmly driven away! Full in length, on the stumps. Ghosh gets on the front foot and smashes it gun-barrel down the ground to pick up her first boundary.

End of over 314 runs

IND-W: 31/2CRR: 10.33RRR: 1.58

Ball

Shafali Verma:23 (8)

Richa Ghosh:1 (1)

Ayaka Kato Stafford:1-0-14-1

2.6

Ayaka Kato Stafford to Shafali Verma, 6 runs

SIX! Smoked down the ground! On a good length outside off, Shafali moves forward and lofts it cleanly over long off, holding her shape beautifully.

2.5

Ayaka Kato Stafford to Richa Ghosh, 1 run

Pushed through, full and around off, Richa gets on the front foot and strokes it down to long off for a single.

6:44 AM IST Richa Ghosh makes her way out to bat.

2.4

Ayaka Kato Stafford to Bharti Fulmali, no run

OUT! TAKEN! Bharti, too, fails to get some runs under her belt. And honestly, that was a reckless shot from her. On a fuller length, on the off stump, Bharti Fulmali tries to play it aerially over the leg side but goes against the turn and gets a leading edge. The ball is lobbed towards backward point where Shimako Kato takes a simple catch. India Women are 24/2, chasing 58.

Bharti Fulmali

6 (7b 1x4 0x6)SR: 85.71

c Shimako Kato b Ayaka Kato Stafford

2.3

Ayaka Kato Stafford to Bharti Fulmali, 4 runs

FOUR! Crunched! Very full by Stafford, on off, Bharti Fulmali clears the front leg away and smokes it powerfully down the ground for a boundary.

2.2

Ayaka Kato Stafford to Bharti Fulmali, 2 runs

Short and on off, Bharti goes deep inside the crease and hacks it to deep mid-wicket. Oda from the in-field gives it a chase and tidies it up. Two runs taken and Bharti is off the mark.

2.1

Ayaka Kato Stafford to Shafali Verma, 1 run

A leg break to start with, full around off, Shafali drives it inside out and wide of extra cover for a single.

6:41 AM IST Time for spin as the leggie Ayaka Kato Stafford comes on.

End of over 20 run

IND-W: 17/1CRR: 8.50RRR: 2.27

Ball

Bharti Fulmali:0 (4)

Shafali Verma:16 (6)

Nonoha Yasumoto:1-1-0-1

1.6

Nonoha Yasumoto to Bharti Fulmali, no run

Full and wide outside off, Bharti Fulmali drives it straight to the fielder at cover-point. A small win for Japan as Nonoha bowls a wicket-maiden. India need 41 runs to win.

1.5

Nonoha Yasumoto to Bharti Fulmali, no run

A touch short, on off, Bharti rocks back and knocks it to short cover.

1.4

Nonoha Yasumoto to Bharti Fulmali, no run

Back of a length, outside off, Fulmali square cuts it to cover. The fielder makes a half sliding stop and the point fielder backs it up.

1.3

Nonoha Yasumoto to Bharti Fulmali, no run

Full-ish, outside off, Bharti drives it off the front foot to cover.

6:39 AM IST Japan's joy knows no bounds. Bharti Fulmali has been sent in at number 3.

1.2

Nonoha Yasumoto to G Kamalini, no run

OUT! CAUGHT! Huge moment for Nonoha. She is ecstatic, and the Japanese players are all smiles. Yasumoto lands it full and on the leg stump line. G Kamalini tries to pump it over long on, but mistimes her lofted shot and airs it straight down the throat of Ahilya Chandel at long on. G Kamalini misses out on the opportunity after being promoted as the opener. India Women are 17/1.

G Kamalini

0 (2b 0x4 0x6)SR: 0.00

c Ahilya Chandel b Nonoha Yasumoto

1.1

Nonoha Yasumoto to G Kamalini, no run

So nearly chopped on! Slightly back of a length, outside off, G Kamalini tries to cut it late, but gets a fat inside edge and luckily for her, the ball bounces past the leg stump.

6:37 AM IST India have raced off the blocks. Another left-arm quick has been introduced from the opposite end. Here's Nonoha Yasumoto. The keeper is standing up to the stumps.

End of over 117 runs

IND-W: 17/0CRR: 17.00RRR: 2.15

Ball

Shafali Verma:16 (6)

G Kamalini:0 (0)

Ahilya Chandel:1-0-17-0

0.6

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

FOUR! Absolutely clobbered! Serves it up there, full and wide on off. Shafali gets another chance to free her arms and she lifts it effortlessly over extra cover for another boundary. 17 runs off the opening over, and India need just 41 more runs to win.

0.5

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, no run

On a back of a length, angled outside off, Shafali Verma looks to punch it away but chops it down the pitch.

0.4

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, no run

Much better by Ahilya! Full and straight, on middle, Verma pushes it straight back at the bowler.

0.3

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

FOUR! Pierces the gap with ease and at will! Pushed across the batter, full in length. Shafali Verma leans on it and steers it magnificently through the gap between backward point and cover for a boundary.

0.2

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

FOUR! Up and over! Half-volley on the off stump. Shafali Verma brings her bottom hand into play and lofts it crisply over the mid off fielder for a boundary. Easy pickings.

0.2

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, 1 run

WIDE! Sprays it down leg, on a length, Shafali misses to connect the pull.

0.1

Ahilya Chandel to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

FOUR! Lovely shot to get off the mark! Pitched full and around the off stump. Shafali Verma gets on the front foot, presents the full face of the bat and knocks it over and wide of short cover for a boundary.

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