Asian Games 2023, IND-W vs MAL-W live: IND-W enters semis after match abandoned due to rain

CHENNAI: Team India will take on Malaysia women in first quarter-final of the Asian Games 2023 on Thursday, at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field, Hangzhou.

India women will be playing their full-strength side in the Asian Games led by Smriti Mandhana and Malaysian women, on the other hand, won their previous match against Hong Kong women by 22 runs.

This is the first time the Indian cricket team is competing at the Asian Games. Cricket was included as a sport only twice before at the Asian Games in the 2010 and 2014 editions.

Malaysia are currently chasing a target of 174 runs and reached 1/0 in 0.2 overs before rain interrupted play.

Earlier, Shafali Verma's half-century took India to 173/2 in a rain-hit first innings. There was a rain delay in the first innings, with India reaching 60/1 in 5.4 overs. Smriti Mandhana (27) was also dismissed in that over, before rain delay. The first innings resumed at 8:15 AM IST with the match reduced to 15 overs each side. Shafali smacked 67 runs off 39 balls, including four fours and five sixes, as India posted a target of 174 runs. Although the match is a quarterfinal, it is India's first match of the campaign.

Malaysia will be hoping to build on their form from the group stage, where they defeated Hong Kong by 22 runs. Cricket in the Asian Games will be played in T20I format.

Also, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka got a direct entry into the quarterfinals and didn't feature in the group stage.

India women's cricket team qualifies for Semifinals.