Shafali and Charani lead India to 8-wicket Asian Games quarter-final win over Japan

India beat Japan by eight wickets in the Asian Games women's cricket quarter-final at Nisshin on Friday, September 18, 2026, to advance to the tournament semifinals.

Shafali Verma scored 40 not out off 15 balls as India chased down Japan's total in five overs, while Shree Charani (4/10) and Shafali Verma (2/13) shared six wickets as India bowled Japan out for 57, setting up a semifinal meeting with Bangladesh on September 20. Richa Ghosh contributed 12 off six balls in the chase.

Left-arm spinner Shree Charani produced a decisive opening spell, finishing with 4/10 and recording her best figures in T20s; she removed Haruna Iwasaki (10) and captain Mai Yanagida with consecutive deliveries in the seventh over, continuing her recent red-hot form in the format.

In the later stages of Japan's innings, the off-spinner listed as Shafali Verma returned figures of 2/13, dismissing Ayaka Kato-Stafford — the top-scorer with 25 — and Shimako Kato in the 15th and 17th overs respectively.

Japan managed just 24 runs in the Power Play and were limited to three boundaries across their entire innings, one of the two Power Play fours coming through an edge past the slips. The limited hitting and low boundary count reflected the hosts' difficulties throughout the innings.

The pitch at Nisshin offered pronounced turn and bounce, which compounded Japan's problems against India's spin-heavy attack; there were also a couple of run-outs that further disrupted the home side's ability to build partnerships.

During India's chase Japan did claim two wickets, dismissing opener Gunalan Kamalini and one-down batter Bharti Fulmali, but Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh completed the run chase inside five overs. India, the defending gold-medallists, will face Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinals on September 20.