Asian Games 2023: Indian women's cricket team receives praise for winning gold against Sri Lanka

History was etched in the annals of cricket as the Indian women's cricket team secured a gold medal in their debut at the Asian Games 2023. They triumphed over Sri Lanka by 19 runs in a thrilling final held at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou, China. 

Opting to bat after winning the toss, India encountered a challenging wicket for batting. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana played a pivotal role with her composed innings of 46, while Jemimah Rodrigues provided valuable support with 42 runs. Although the middle-order faced some setbacks, the team managed to set a formidable target of 116 runs, which proved to be insurmountable for the Sri Lankan batters. 

READ | IND W vs SL W: Indian women's cricket team win GOLD on debut against Sri Lanka at Asian Games

Coming to defend the total, Titas Sadhu and Pooja Vastrakar formed a formidable pace battery, with Sadhu claiming three crucial wickets, including the dismissal of Sri Lanka's skipper Chamari Athapaththu. 

Sri Lanka displayed resilience through Hasini Perera and Nilakshi de Silva's spirited knocks, but the Indian spinners ultimately seized the spotlight, dashing Sri Lanka's hopes and securing the coveted gold medal. This victory marked a historic milestone for Indian cricket, as it was their inaugural appearance at the Asian Games in 2023 which earned them praise from cricket fans online.

In the morning clash, Bangladesh emerge victorious to claim the bronze medal as they defeated Pakistan to win by 5 wickets.