Smriti Mandhana in action. (FILE photo)India thrashed Hong Kong, China by 137 runs on Thursday and became the first team to qualify for the Asia Cup semifinals. Deepti Sharma took 3 wickets and became the highest wicket-taker in T20Is as India skittled out Hong Kong for just 56 runs.
Smriti Mandhana became the highest-ever scorer in women’s internationals, going past Mithali Raj with her 124-run innings against Hong Kong, China in the Asia Cup on Thursday. She also broke other records on the way, becoming only the second India women’s player to get 2 centuries in the T20I format as India posted 193/5.
This was after India were sent out to bat by Hong Kong China on Thursday in the Asia Cup, just 2 days ahead of their high profile encounter against Pakistan on Saturday. India, who are 7-time Asia Cup champions with 3 coming in the T20I format, will hope that their batting performance does not leave a lot to be desired.
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AAAAND IS THAT THE LAST OF HONG KONG WICKET TO FALL? YES!! Looks like it. Shahzad's trailing leg is in the air and Richa expertly takes off the bails. The third umpire checks and gives it out. Done and dusted. India are the first team to qualify for the semifinals after winning here by 137 runs
Hong Kong are now just falling like a house of cards. It looks like a run out on Joyleen. And yes, it's given as out. She looks unhgappy with the decision and she finally makes her way back to the pavilion.
Joyleen Kaur run out (Smriti Mandhana/Richa Ghosh) 1(1)
AAAND ANOTHER DOWN!!! SAME OVER BY DEEPTI. INDIA ARE RUNNING THROUGH THIS HONG KONG BATTING LINEUP. Shar gets an edge and that's gone up, landing safely into the palms of Richa. With that Deepti becomes the highest ever wicket-taker in Women's T20I internationals
Iqra Sahar c Richa Ghosh b Deepti Sharma 0(3)
Deepti will bowl the next over and would you believe it, she has castled Siu!! Another wicket down for Hong Kong and they are down and out.
Alison Siu b Deepti Sharma 1(3)
Charani continues and Shahzad with a single to start. Lamplough tries to go for a sweep but can't get anything substantial on it. The ball hit Richa on the helmet., A concussion check now. A wild swing and a miss. A review now for stumping. She looks safe. Not out. But her stay is short after that as she gets bamboozled by the turn and Nandni with a diving catch.
Marina Lamplough c Nandni Sharma b Shree Charani 14(15)
Nandni back now and Maryam almost chops it on but gets 2 runs. She tries a swing and misses the next ball. AAAND GONE!! She tried to take on the bowler, gets it all wrong and Shafali with another simple catch.
Maryam Bibi c Shafali Verma b Nandani Sharma 7(10)
Shree Charani back in the attack and gives away a single from the first couple of deliveries. A single of the next two deliveries as well. And Lamplough gets hold of the 5th ball and slams it straight over long on for a four!! Ends the over with another boundary!!
HKC 50/4 after 13 overs
Prema Rawat will continue and she gets another wicket!! Chan tries to go after the flighted up delivery and has just found Shafali Verma in the deep.
Kary Chan c Shafali Verma b Prema Rawat 1(6)
Kranti back in the attack and after a dot, Lamplough takes advantage of the short delivery to get a boundary!! Better line next two deliveries as they beat the batters. Just that 4 runs from this over.
HKC 36/3 after 11 overs
Prema to bowl the 10th and Hong Kong need to get a move along here. Only big shots will get them close to their target at this juncture. They are just dealing in singles at the moment with the last boundary coming in the 7th over. AAAAND THAT'S ANOTHER DOWN!! Miles tries to cut and has got a feather of a touch and Richa takes the catch behind the stumps.
Natasha Miles c Richa Ghosh b Prema Rawat 15(27)
Deepti Sharma will continue and after a couple of quiet balls, she strikes!!! Daswani tries to release the pressure and she has played it straight into the hands of Fulmali.
Yasmin Daswani c Bharti Fulmali b Deepti Sharma 11(23)
Prema Rawat in the attack now and after a single, Daswani is on strike. She takes a single as well and the strike is given back to her captain. The required rate is already over 13 and Hong Kong need some big hits. Just these singles won't do.
HKC 26/1 after 8 overs
Deepti in the attack now and Miles tries a big heave but misses the ball completely. How has that not hit the stumps? And she finally catches one as she likes and slams the next one for a four!! 5 from this one.
HKC 21/1 after 7 overs
Sree Charani to bowl the 6th over and Daswani gets a boundary with a sweep. Gets an edge now, followed by another dot. Oh wo, the last ball of the over has missed everyone and trickles to the boundary for 4 byes.
HKC 16/1 after 6 overs
Shafali in to bowl the penultimate over of the powerplay and she starts off with a dot. Miles with a sweep next but the ball catches her on the belly for 1 bye. Another single now from Daswani, followed by another from Miles. Just 4 from this one.
HKC 8/1 after 5 overs
Nandni again and Miles gets an edge but can't go off strike. Follows that up with another dot as the Hong Kong captain looks for gaps. And Nandni has hit the stumps on the follow-through. But Miles is in at the right time. She finally gets a single as Nandni offers some width. Just 1 from this one.
HKC 4/1 after 4 overs
Kranti continues and Daswani tries to play a cute ramp to beat the swing but gets hit on the pad. Back to back dots now. And tries the same shot again and fails again. Kranti is just following her. Beats the outside edge next and it's a maiden over.
HKC 3/1 after 3 overs
Nandni Sharma in to bowl the second over and Hill almost chops one on her stumps. Gets an edge now but it falls just ahead of the slip fielder. AAAND BOWLED!!! HILL HAS BEEN CLEANED UP!!
Mariko Hill b Nandni Sharma 0(4)
We are back live and Kranti Gaud will open the attack for India. Starts with 3 back to back dots as Natasha Miles can't go off strike. She finally gets a single off the 5th over and Hong Kong are off the mark. Just 1 from this one.
HKC 1/0 after 1 over
Star Indian opener Smriti Mandhana etched her name in the record books on Thursday, surpassing legendary compatriot Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in the history of women’s international cricket across all formats. The 30-year-old achieved the feat during the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Group A match against Hong Kong at the Dubai International Stadium. (READ MORE)
Last over now. Siu to bowl and Mandhana has started this one off with a boundary!! And there's a big mix-up in the middle and Smriti's innings ends in an anti-climactic manner. She is gone for 124 runs. And India finish with 193/5
Into the 19th over and Harmanpreet Kaur is gone after hitting a four!! Tries to give india a big finish and she holes out to Joyleen in the deep.
Harmanpreet Kaur c Joyleen Kaur b Marina Lamplough 10(9)
Ruchitha Venkatesh in the attack now and Mandhana with a disdainful shot for a SIX!!! Follows that up with a 6 and she has gone past Mithali Raj as the highest scorer in women's international cricket!! And follows that up with another 6!!! She is now gone past her own highest score.
IND-W 179/3 after 18 overs
Lamplough next and Richa slams her for a 4 to start!!! But the bowler has the last laugh as Richa gets her shot horribly wring next as an edge carries the ball up in the air and the bowler completes a catch. Smriti with a cut next to get her century with a 4!!!
Alison Siu to bowl the next one and Mandhana with another four to start this one off. Richa tries to go for a big hit again and she has missed it!! And the over ends with 7 runs.
IND W 147/2 after 16 overs
Joyleen will bowl tyhe 15th and Richa tries a slog sweep but the slower balls aren't helping her. Mandhana now on strike and what can she do? She tries to go down the track but gets no pace and the ball lands inside the inner circle. She's lucky that there was no fielder there. She shuffles across and slams a four to fine leg now!! Goes over extra cover again for another 4!!! Mandhana getting closer to 100.
IND W 140/2 after 15 overs
Maryam continues and Richa with a single to start. Smriti tries to go over for another boundary but it's well guarded, just the one. And she picks up another one and that's sailed over the ropes for a SIX!!! Goes again over extra cover but it's just 2. And she slams one over square leg for another 6!!!
IND W 129/2 after 14 overs
Joy Leen now with the ball. she is the 7th bowler used by Hong Kong and she gets a breakthrough!!! Off the very first delivery. Pratika tries to go over the offside field and holes out to the point fielder.
Pratika Rawal c Maryam Bibi b Joyleen Kaur 10(12)
Kary Chan back for her 3rd over and Pratika with a single. Mandhana on strike and she scoops one over the infield but it's just 1. She shuffles across leg side and slams a 6!!! Smashes the next down the track but Lamplough with a brilliant bit of fielding to keep it down to 1.
IND W 111/1 after 12 overs
Sahar to bowl her 4th and final over and Pratika starts this one with a single. Mandhana on strike and she is 2 runs away. But she's happy to take a single. Pratika tries to swing her bat at the wideish ball which is adjudged a wide. She takes another single and Mandhana with a six to bring up her 50!! Ends the over with 4 more!!
IND W 100/1 after 11 overs
Mandhana is 4 short of a half century here and starts the 10th with 1 run. Chan errs in line next for a wide. A shout for stumping on Pratika now. There's a review now. Pratika grounded her foot a long time ago. Follows it up with another wide. Pratika with a single next and Mandhana is just 1 hit away from 50. She sweeps and takes a single as we wait. Still 2 left for her half century.
IND W 85/1 after 10 overs
Sahar to bowl the 9th over and Mandhana takes a single to start this one off. Pratika will now be facing her first delivery of the match after making her T20I debut just last game vs Thailand. She hoicks one through the midwicket region to get 2 runs. She gives the strike back to Mandhana with another single. And the over ends with a quick single.
IND W 79/1 after 9 overs
Ruchitha Venkatesh to bowl the next and Mandhana finds the gap expertly between extra cover and long off for a four!! Follows that up with another boundary, in the same area!! Takes a single next and Shafali can see this over off. She tries to go for a maximum and has holed out in the deep!!
Shafali Verma c Marina Lamplough b Ruchitha Venkatesh 28(17)
Alison Siu is the new bowler in just after powerplay and Smriti starts this one off with a boundary!! Takes a single next and Shafali swings her bat but that's missed. 5 from this one.
IND W 65/0 after 7 overs
Lamplough will bowl the last over in the powerplay and Shafali shuffles and slams the drifter to the fine leg boundary. And there's an opportunity as the ball goes highh!!!! And that has crossed the ropes for the first 6 of the match!! Follows that up with a cut shot for 4 more!! Ends the over with another maximum as the bowler can only flash a wry laugh!!
IND W 60/0 after 6 overs
Another new bowler as Maryam Bibi will bowl the penultimate over inside powerplay. And she is greeted by a beautiful cover drive for a four!! Charges down next and was eyeing the extra cover area but can't take advantage of the full toss. And she gets another four with a slog sweep. Things looking ominous for Hong Kong with Mandhana in this mood. And drags the next ball again for four more to end the over!!
IND W 38/0 after 5 overs
Lamplough in the attack now and the first ball ahs beaten Mandhana. She looks a little surprised. The India opener gets one in the slot now and smashes it over the leg side for a four!! Gets an outside edge now and Mandhana takes 2. 7 from this one.
IND W 26/0 after 4 overs
Sahar again and Mandhana is fortunate to get away after trying to go for a full toss as it falls just short of a fielder. The next one is also a full toss and Mandhana misses out once again for just a single. The next one has gone low and just evaded Shafali's stumps. A bit concerning that just in the third over, the ball has found cracks on the pitch and isn't bouncing as it should. 3 from this one.
IND W 19/0 after 3 overs
Kary Chan in the attack and Smriti greets her with a slog sweep that goes to the unguarded deep-midwicket area for the first boundary of the match. Just 2 from the next three deliveries including a wide. Shafali on strike and she has no pace to work with and ends the over with a four after coming down the tracks and clearing extra cover!!
IND W 16/0 after 2 overs
The two Indian openers are out in the middle and Sahar has the new ball in hand. Mandhana with a drive to start things off with 2 runs. After a well-placed yorker, Mandhana takes a single to put Shafali on strike. She is greeted by a full toss and guides the ball for a single. Over ends with another single by Smriti.
IND W 5/0 after 1 over
The two sets of players are out in the pitch and it's time for the national anthems. India are in their familiar blue shirts while Hong Kong China are in red. Hong Kong China's anthem is played first, followed by India's.
Group A: India, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong
Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia
Natasha Miles(c), Maryam Bibi, Mariko Hill, Joyleen Kaur, Marina Lamplough, Yasmin Daswani(w), Shanzeen Shahzad, Kary Chan, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Iqra Sahar, Alison Siu
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud
Harmanpreet Kaur: We also wanted to bat first in these conditions. We don't have a target score in mind; we just want to go and play to our strengths. This pitch is tricky and we don't know how it will play out. Hong Kong is playing well and this is a good opportunity for us to play against them and gain some momentum.
Natasha Miles: We will bowl first, the conditions are good and we are not sure about our batting unti, We would like to restrict them to under 150, we have two changes, I am coming back into the eleven. Obviously its excited to play against India and we are looking forward to coming back and playing the Asia Cup in the future.
We are ready for the toss and the coin goes up and the Hong Kong China captain has called and she gets it right. India have been sent to bat first as Hong Kong opt to field first.
Jemimah Rodrigues will not be featuring in this competition and next month’s Asian Games, owing to a hamstring injury she sustained during The Hundred Women’s. Rodrigues is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and Pratika Rawal — who is yet to play a T20I or a Women’s Premier League fixture — has been named as her replacement.
India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Gunalan Kamalini, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav
Hong Kong, China Women: Kary Chan, Mariko Hill, Yasmin Daswani(w), Maryam Bibi(c), Marina Lamplough, Shanzeen Shahzad, Joyleen Kaur, Shing Chan Dorothea, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Alison Siu, Charlotte Chan, Kaur Mahekdeep, Hailey Wong, Iqra Sahar, Natasha Miles
India will look to iron out the chinks in the batting lineup before the high profile clash against Pakistan on Sunday when they take on a relatively weaker Hong Kong China in a Group A Asia Cup encounter in Dubai on Thursday. India had defeated Thailand handily in their opening match but their batting left a lot to be desired with on Shafali Verma doing justice to her talents. Can the others follow suit tonight? We'll find out live.
On the eve of India’s Women’s Asia Cup opener against Thailand, Amol Muzumdar had made a pledge. After nine defeats in 16 T20Is this calendar year, India’s head coach wanted his team to set the tone for the remainder of 2026 through this tournament. In sport’s most fundamental currency — victory — the start was as promised.
India began their Asia Cup campaign with a 94-run demolition of Thailand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Asked to bat first, they made 159/9 before bowling the underdogs out for 65. The emphatic result, though, came courtesy a few individual performances that papered over some familiar collective cracks.
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