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'De Ghuma ke De Ghuma ke' - Fans rejoice as Indian women's cricket team qualifies for semi-finals of 2023 Asian Games 

India Women advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Games after their quarter-final match against Malaysia got washed out due to rain.

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Daniel S
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Indian women's cricket team

Indian women's cricket team

The Indian women's cricket team advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Games after their quarter-final match against Malaysia got washed out due to rain. India moved into the super fours of the event due to their better seeding (higher-ranked team) in the competition.

The match was reduced to a 15-over per-side affair after the first rain interruption during India's batting innings. However, only two balls could be bowled in the second innings as rain played spoilsport at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field, Hangzhou, China on Thursday, September 21.

After being asked to bat first, India women posted a mammoth total of 173/2 in 15 overs. Captain Smriti Mandhana (27 off 16) and Shafali Verma provided a strong start for the team before rain halts play for the first time with India at 60/1 in 5.4 overs. The rain, however, could not stop the Indian batters's surge as Shafali and Jemima Rodriguez came out all guns blazing.

Shafali Verma scripts history in China 

The right-handed opener, in an incredible batting display, scripted a couple of records as well. Shafali, who scored 67 in 39 balls with 4 fours and 5 sixes, became the first Indian to score a half-century in Asian Games history. She also holds the record of being the youngest player to hit 50 sixes in T20Is.

The 19-year-old and Rodrigues (47* off 29) stitched an 86-run partnership off 47 balls before the former's dismissal in the 13th over. The finishing touch to the Indian innings was done by Richa Ghosh, who scored a brisk 7-ball 21.

For Malaysia, Ainna Hamizah Hashim and Winifred Duraisingam walked out to bat and Pooja Vastrakar opened the attack for India. But after two balls, rain forced the groundsmen to bring back the covers and India were declared the winner as no play was possible thereafter.

India Women will next be in action in the first semi-final on Sunday, September 24. Pakistan Women will face Indonesia Women in the second quarter-final, followed by Sri Lanka Women vs Thailand Women in the third quarter-final and Bangladesh Women vs Hong Kong Women in the fourth quarter-final.

Here's how fans reacted to India's qualification for the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Games:

India Asian Games Asian Games 2023 India women Malaysia Women