India became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 after a commanding 137-run victory over Hong Kong China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Smriti Mandhana starred with a century, smashing 124 off 64 balls – her highest score in the format – to power India to 193/5. Hong Kong China were bowled out for a measly 56 in the chase, with Deepti Sharma being the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/9.
Mandhana’s knock, which included 14 fours and seven sixes, was her second T20I century and took her past compatriot Mithali Raj to become the highest scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.
Her 18th international hundred also took Mandhana past Australia’s Meg Lanning to become the leading century-maker in women’s international cricket.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a flying start, taking them to 60 in the powerplay. Shafali Verma fell at the end of the eighth over for 28 off 17 balls, but Mandhana continued her assault alongside new batter Pratika Rawal.
India reached 100 in the 11th over and crossed 150 in the 17th before Mandhana was run out in the final over and finished with a formidable total.
In reply, Hong Kong China’s chase never got going, with opener Mariko Hill dismissed in the second over.
The Indian bowlers continued to keep the batters in check, restricting Hong Kong China to just 16 runs in the powerplay.
Runs remained hard to come by for Hong Kong China as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with the match quickly slipping away from their grasp.
Deepti Sharma took three scalps, while Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma and Prema Rawat claimed two wickets apiece as India secured a comprehensive victory.
India, the most successful team in Women’s Asia Cup history with seven titles, will face arch-rivals Pakistan in their final Group A encounter at the same venue on Saturday.
The Women in Blue were drawn in Group A alongside Thailand, Pakistan and Hong Kong China. The top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals.
HKG-W vs IND-W, Women’s Asia Cup 2026, brief scores: India 193/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 124; Marina Lamplough 2/46) beat Hong Kong China 56/10 in 16.2 overs (Natasha Miles 15; Deepti Sharma 3/9) by 137 runs.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/women-asia-cup-2026-hong-kong-china-vs-india-cricket-match-report
