India meet Bangladesh in Nisshin with their Asian Games gold medal defence at stake

India begin the decisive stage of their Asian Games gold medal defence against a Bangladesh side that has not yet played a match in Japan

India and Bangladesh meet in the second semi-final of the Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Sunday, the match starting at 10:30 IST. The winner goes through to the gold medal match on 22 September.

Harmanpreet Kaur's side reached the last four by bowling hosts Japan out for 57 in the quarter-final, Shree Charani taking 4-10, and then knocking off the runs inside five overs for an eight-wicket win.

Bangladesh have been waiting since Thursday. Their quarter-final against China at the same ground was called off without a toss on a wet outfield, and they went through as the higher-ranked side, tenth in the ICC women's T20I standings against China's 36th.

A knockout they have already played this month

The two sides met in a knockout ten days ago, in the Women's Asia Cup semi-final at Dubai on 10 September. India made 149 for 6 and held Bangladesh to 109 for 7 to win by 40 runs.

Shafali Verma's 64 from 40 balls carried that innings and earned her the match award, with Harmanpreet Kaur adding 24. India beat Sri Lanka in the final three days later for an eighth Asia Cup title.

The longer record is similarly one-sided. Bangladesh have won three of the 25 Twenty20 internationals between the two countries.

Charani heads an attack in form

Shree Charani comes into the semi-final as the top-ranked bowler in the ICC women's T20I rankings, having taken four wickets in each of her past two matches.

She is one part of a spin group that also carries Deepti Sharma, whose three wickets shaped the Asia Cup semi-final, and the left-arm option of Radha Yadav. Shreyanka Patil, named in the squad subject to fitness, has come back from injury.

Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud give Harmanpreet Kaur her seam cover, on a ground where the quarter-finals produced low scoring throughout.

An untested middle order

India's one uncertainty is how little their middle order has been asked to do. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain, have settled games so early that the batters below them have had few meaningful overs in either tournament.

The quarter-final chase lasted five overs and cost two wickets, which left the rest of the order without time at the crease. A tighter semi-final would be the first real examination of that part of the side since the Asia Cup began.

Bangladesh come in cold

Nigar Sultana leads a team that has not had a competitive innings in Japan, with Nahida Akter as her deputy. Reports in Dhaka say Nigar is set to give up the T20I captaincy after the Games.

Bangladesh's recurring difficulty against the stronger Asian sides has been posting a total, and the 109 for 7 in Dubai was a fair illustration of it. The washout has also denied them any chance to find batting rhythm before a knockout.

Marufa Akter and the leg-spinner Rabeya Khan carry much of the responsibility with the ball, against an India top order that has scored quickly throughout September.

The other side of the draw

Pakistan and Sri Lanka contest the first semi-final at the same ground earlier on Sunday. Pakistan came through a rain-shortened quarter-final against Thailand, chasing 91 for 4 from 11 overs with three wickets in hand, while Sri Lanka beat Malaysia by 86 runs.

India won gold at Hangzhou in 2023 and would meet one of those two in the final. A second successive title, though, requires them to get past Bangladesh first.

The second semi-final begins at Korogi Sports Park at 10:30 IST on Sunday, with the gold and bronze medal matches to follow on 22 September.

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