# Shafali Verma hits first Asian Games century, India into final 2026-09-20T10:17:08+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Shafali Verma became the first cricketer to score a century in Asian Games history, hitting an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls to lead India to 195/4 against Bangladesh in the women's T20I semifinal. India won by 114 runs to advance to the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka. The match was played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. Verma's innings included nine sixes and three fours, the second-highest six count in a women's T20I innings after Laura Agatha's 11 for Brazil. She also surpassed Smriti Mandhana as India's leading six-hitter in women's T20Is, now with 104 sixes. Mandhana earlier became the first Indian woman to hit 100 T20I sixes during the same innings. Verma has hit 35 sixes in 2026, the most by any player in a calendar year, and has scored 815 runs this year, second only to South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt with 824. Bangladesh's wickets were shared by four bowlers. India will face Sri Lanka in the final. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal, the first century in tournament history across genders. India posted 195/4 in Nisshin, Japan, and won by 114 runs to reach the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka. The knock included nine sixes, the most by an Indian woman in a T20I innings, and pushed Verma past Smriti Mandhana as India’s leading six-hitter in the format. She also leads the calendar-year sixes count with 35. The final date is yet to be confirmed. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com (neutral report) Focuses solely on historical achievement and Bishop's praise, avoids match details or rival records - timesnownews.com (neutral report) Leads with history recording, includes Athapaththu comparison and six-hitting record against Brazil - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with history, adds Mandhana milestone and extensive calendar-year statistical tables Tags: Asian Games, Bangladesh women's cricket, Ian Bishop, India women's cricket, Shafali Verma Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/shafali-verma-hits-first-asian-games-womens-t20i-century/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/shafali-verma-hits-first-asian-games-womens-t20i-century/#story-in-brief