Asia Games 2023: On Thursday at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou, China, in a quarterfinal 1 match that was postponed due to rain, India defeated Malaysia to score 173/2, spearheaded by outstanding performances from Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, and a blazing cameo of 21 runs from Richa Ghosh.
After a weather delay, the game was trimmed to 15 overs per side. Richa blasted three boundaries and one maximum in the final over to lead India to an impressive score of 173/2.
After a slow start in the first over, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were both in the middle of the action. In their matchup with Malaysia, the Indian superstar pair scored goals. Mahirah Izzati Ismail struck out well-positioned batter Mandhana for 27 in the sixth over. At the backpoint, Mandhana holed out to Ainna Hamizah Hashim.
Jemimah Rodrigues, a right-handed batter, then exited the game. Shafali slammed Nur Dania Syuhada’s borders back-to-back. The Indian opener kept hitting the midwicket region.
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In the 10th over, Shafali and Rodrigues pounded Malaysian bowlers all over the pitch to push India over the 100-run threshold. In the game’s eleventh over, Shafali hit Winifred Duraisingam for two sixes and one four to reach fifty in style. She only needed 31 deliveries to reach her half-century.
Shafali was singing while setting the boundaries as she pleased. The 86-run partnership was ended when Mas Elysa gave her team the crucial Shafali wicket. At 67 runs, the Indian opener returned to the pavilion.
The next hitter to bat, Richa Ghosh, opened her account by hammering Mas Elysa for three boundaries and one six, scoring 20 runs in the last over. Richa’s explosive cameo assisted India in reaching their goal of 173/2. India 173/2 (Jemimah Rodrigues 47*, Shafali Verma 67; Mas Elysa 1-26) vs. Malaysia is the quick score.
