The much-anticipated women’s cricket quarter final between India and Malaysia at the Asian Games faced yet another delay due to persistent rain. Despite the weather woes, India managed to put up an impressive target for Malaysia. In a thrilling match that saw its fair share of interruptions, India was off to a dominant start right from the beginning. Malaysia won the toss and elected to bowl first against India. Despite a brief rain delay in the morning, the game was expected to commence on schedule. The opening pair of Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues exhibited aggressive and commanding performances at the crease.
India vs Malaysia: Rain Disrupts Play
The rain gods had different plans for the match as play was halted once more. The interruption came just after the second ball of the second innings, bowled by Puja Vastrakar. India had already asserted their dominance against Malaysia, setting a formidable target of 174 runs.
India’s Commanding Batting Display
India demonstrated their batting prowess by posting a mammoth total of 173 runs in the quarterfinal of the Asian Games 2023. The team’s performance was commendable, with Richa Ghosh contributing a late but impactful cameo, smashing 21 runs off just seven balls.
With Shafali Verma’s explosive 67 and Jemimah Rodrigues’ solid 47, India’s total looked imposing. Elysa was the sole wicket-taker for Malaysia, securing one wicket for 26 runs.
In Short:
- Shafali Verma, with her explosive 67 off 39 balls, was dismissed, but India remained on track for a 160+ target, reaching 143/2 in 13 overs.
- An injury scare hit Verma when she hurt her right wrist while avoiding a shot from Jemimah Rodrigues; medical staff provided immediate attention.
- India’s strong performance saw them reach the 100-run mark impressively in just the 10th over, with Jemimah Rodrigues matching Verma’s performance.
- Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence was notable due to her suspension following an outburst during India’s previous ODI loss to Bangladesh.
Rain Interruption and Game Resumption
As the rain momentarily paused, cricket enthusiasts could look forward to a thrilling restart in the next 10 minutes. The match duration had been reduced to 15 overs per side due to the weather conditions. Expectations were high for a spectacle once the Indian team resumed play. Broadcasters reported that the rain in Hangzhou was more of a steady drizzle than a torrential downpour. Fortunately, the ground’s excellent drainage capabilities offered hope that the teams might resume playing soon. In case the game remained unfinished, India would advance to the semi-finals due to their higher ranking.
Cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the resumption of this thrilling quarterfinal clash between India and Malaysia at the Asian Games, hoping for more exciting action once play resumes.