Shree Charani leads India to Asian Games semifinals

In their Women's Asian Games quarterfinal match against Japan, India bowled 95 spin deliveries after choosing to field. Their four spinners combined for 8 for 46 and bowled Japan out for 57. Shree Charani, a left-arm spinner, finished her four overs with a career-best 4 for 10, including 20 dot balls. Shafali Verma added two wickets, while Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil took one apiece.

India chased down that score in just five overs with Shafali Verma hitting a blistering unbeaten 40 off 15 balls, including six fours and two sixes to take India home. The defending champions will now face Bangladesh in the semifinal.

For hosts Japan, opener Ayaka Kato-Stafford provided the bulk of the resistance, facing 47 balls for her 25. Throughout the innings, the disparity in quality between the two teams was very clear, with Haruna Iwasaki being the only other batter to reach double figures.

With the ball, Japan did make a few breakthroughs. Nonoha Yasumoto bowled a wicket-maiden to dismiss Gunalan Kamalini, while Kato-Stafford produced a fine legspinner that induced a false shot from Bharti Fulmali. But India quickly regained control through Shafali's assault.