Charani, Shafali power India to enter semis

Opener Shafali Verma’s all-round brilliance and left-arm spinner Shree Charani’s devastating spell powered defending gold-medallists India into the Asian Games women’s cricket semifinals with a dominant eight-wicket win over an inexperienced Japan, here on Friday.

Charani (4/10) and Shafali (2/13) shared six wickets among them as India bowled out Japan for a paltry 57, and then chased down the target in just five overs to set up a clash with Bangladesh on September 20.

Shafali (40 not out, 15 balls) played the lead role in that pygmy-sized chase, along with Richa Ghosh (12, six balls). However, Japan also had some moments to cheer as they managed to dismiss opener Gunalan Kamalini and one down batter Bharti Fulmali.

The ensuing celebrations proved Japan’s spirit despite defending an abysmally low target. But spirit alone could not help them thwart players in the class of Shafali and Ghosh, who took India home without much fuss.

The credit for restricting Japan to just-above 50 went largely to Indian spinners led by Charani. Bowling by choice, Indians never gave the Japan batters any chance to free their arms, which was reflected in just three boundaries in the host team’s innings. Japanese batters, who barely get to play top teams and for that matter even train regularly, could not find a way to force the pace throughout the innings. In fact, they were even struggling to smack the ball past or over the ropes.

The Power Play yielded only 24 runs and the segment saw Japan batters hitting just two fours, and one of them was an edge through the slips.

But left-arm spinner Charani, who recorded her best figures in T20s, soon bagged the wickets of opener Haruna Iwasaki (10) and skipper Mai Yanagida off successive balls in the seventh over, continuing her recent red-hot form in this format.

In the back 10, spinner Shafali Verma (2/13) joined the list of wicket-takers as Japan slid further. The off-spinner jettisoned Ayaka Kato-Stafford, the highest scorer for Japan with 25, and Shimako Kato in the 15th and 17th over as their attempt to go for big, aerial shots ended in the hands of Indian fielders.

In the other semifinal, to be also held on Sunday, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka, who defeated Malaysia by 86 runs in their quarterfinal match held earlier this morning.

Brief scores:

Japan: 57 all out in 19.5 overs (Ayaka Kato-Stafford 25, Sree Charani 4/10, Shafali Verma 2/13) lost to India 59 for 2 in 5 overs (Shafali Verma 40 not out; Nonoha Yasumoto 1/8) by 8 wickets.

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The Hans India