In Hangzhou on September 25, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues forged a pivotal 73-run partnership. This was followed by a stellar performance by young fast-bowling all-rounder Titas Sadhu, who bowled a remarkable spell of 3-6 in four overs, leading India to a 19-run victory against Sri Lanka and securing India's first-ever gold medal in the women’s T20 event at the Asian Games.

This victory at the Asian Games holds immense significance for the Indian women’s cricket team, especially after their heart-wrenching experience at last year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where they secured the silver medal after a defeat against Australia.

Opting to bat first, Smriti and Jemimah showcased their batting prowess, scoring 46 and 42, respectively, before India lost wickets towards the end, concluding their innings at 116/7. Titas, recognized as the Player of the Match in this year’s U19 Women’s T20 World Cup final for her exceptional spell of 2-6, went on to claim three vital wickets, displaying impeccable accuracy, including a double-wicket maiden.

Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad also made significant contributions by taking two wickets, while Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, and Devika Vaidya each contributed with a scalp, further bolstering India's victory in their maiden participation in the event. Sri Lanka concluded their innings at 97/8.

Brief Scores:
India: 116/7 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 46, Jemimah Rodrigues 42; Udeshika Prabodhani 2-16, Inoka Ranaweera 2-21)
Sri Lanka: 97/8 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 25, Nilakshi de Silva 23; Titas Sadhu 3-6, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-20)
India won by 19 runs