Photo via Hindustan Times

Shree Charani’s 4/10 sets the tone and Shafali Verma does the rest as India thump Japan to reach Asian Games semis

India stormed into the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games on Friday after securing a comprehensive eight-wicket quarterfinal triumph over tournament hosts Japan in Nisshin. 5 overs following a wicketless 24-run powerplay.

Shree Charani led the bowling effort with impressive figures of 4 for 10, accompanied by Shafali Verma's two dismissals and a single wicket each from Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma, while Ayaka Kato Stafford provided Japan's primary resistance with 25 runs from 47 deliveries.

Chasing the 58-run target, India completed the victory in merely five overs with 90 deliveries remaining. Despite losing surprise opening partner Gunalan Kamalini for a duck to Nonoha Yasumoto via an Ahilya Chandel catch, and Bharti Fulmali for 6 to Kato Stafford, Verma dominated the chase by blasting an undefeated 40 off 15 balls, including six boundaries and two maximums.

Richa Ghosh contributed an unbeaten 12 off six deliveries to finish the pursuit, setting up a Sunday semifinal clash against Nigar Sultana's Bangladesh squad, who advanced after their Thursday match against China was rained out.