India Women vs Hong Kong, China Women, Match 7 Match Summary

That's all for the night - It was a lopsided affair as India confirmed their place in the semi-finals with a comprehensive win. With this loss, Hong Kong, China are only mathematically in contention, and it is a similar story for Thailand. Pakistan, who have 2 games left, are in a much stronger position. India's next assignment sees them take on Pakistan on September 5, while Hong Kong, China will face Pakistan on September 7. The action continues on Friday, September 4, when UAE take on Indonesia, with the first ball to be bowled at 2.30 pm GMT (8 pm IST). Until next time, see you and goodbye.

The skipper of India Women - Harmanpreet Kaur begins by pointing out the positives. She says that Smriti and Shefali played really well and helped them to post a huge total on the board. Reckons that the pitch was a lot better than the previous one, but she feels they still have to take a lot of notes to take regarding the conditions. She then acknowledges the concerns surrounding the middle order, explaining that batting first on this pitch helped them to adapt to conditions, while expressing satisfaction that the team still achieved their target of posting close to 200 before the bowlers completed the job. Regarding team selection ahead of the semifinals, she states that the playing XI is largely sorted, though the management will take the remaining time to assess whether any adjustments or shifts in responsibilities are needed. She further expresses gratitude for having Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the national squad, noting that leading them is a privilege and commending Smriti for her crucial knock and Sharma for her consistent hard work. She concludes by praising Hong Kong, China for their joyous celebrations on the field, sharing that observing their enthusiastic approach served as a powerful reminder for top-tier teams to continue enjoying the game even amidst intense competition.

The captain of Hong Kong, China Women - Natasha Miles starts by highlighting the positives, noting that her team bowled well in phases and had the game firmly in their hands for the first 10 to 12 overs before Smriti Mandhana played a top-class innings that showed India's true quality. Miles then acknowledges that while executing their plans was key, they were fully aware of the challenge of facing world-class opposition and knew they had to maintain standard bowling throughout. She emphasises that her team simply needs more exposure at this level to build belief, explaining that competing against higher-ranked teams is essential for gaining confidence. Ends up by sharing insights from a conversation with Harmanpreet Kaur, stating that the main takeaway for her side going forward is adopting that same level of bravery, specifically the confidence and commitment to play big shots right from ball one.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - No prizes for guessing, Smriti Mandhana takes home the award for her entertaining knock of 124 off 64 balls, studded with 14 fours and 7 sixes. When asked if she wants to dedicate this award to anyone, she says she did not have anyone specific in mind, but wants to dedicate her century to her family. On the adjustments she made, she says the team had watched a few videos of the Hong Kong, China bowlers but did not know much about them, so it was about forgetting everything and adjusting to the pace once they came up against them. On missing out on full tosses, she jokes that full tosses are not her strength, but she was happy to put a few of them away, while acknowledging that they can either go for a six or get you out.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Too hot to handle - With 193 on the board, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Hong Kong, China Women, and their task was made all the more difficult by the disciplined bowling from the Indian seamers upfront before the spinners took over. Marina Lamplough was the only one able to show any real spark. After the impressive effort she put in during the campaign opener, she looked confident again tonight and tried to take the attack to the Indian bowlers.

The night belonged to Mandhana - Oh, yes, it certainly did, with the number of milestones she ticked off on her way to her career-best T20I score of 124. She went past Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket and also moved to the top of the women's international century charts, going past Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt with her 18th international hundred. Mandhana nearly batted through the entire 20 overs, which helped their cause on a sluggish surface. For the rest of the batting, barring Shafali Verma, it was a struggle. On the night, Deepti Sharma reclaimed the top spot as the leading wicket-taker in women's T20Is with her 174th scalp and overtook Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong.

India flex their muscles - Two emphatic wins for the Women in Blue, and by doing so, they have become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. Hong Kong, China Women could not put up any sort of fight with the bat and, even with the ball, they lacked the consistency needed to challenge the might of the Indian batting unit.

OUT! STUMPED! Sharp work by Richa Ghosh and that's that for the game. India win by 137 runs and book their place in the semis. Flighted up, on off. Shanzeen Shahzad lunges and has a swing at it. The ball drops on her before spinning past the outside edge. Her back leg gets lifted as Richa Ghosh breaks the stumps in a flash. The third umpire is called into action. The replays confirm that Shahzad's back leg was in the air when the stumps were broken.

Another stumping appeal. Richa Ghosh looks pretty confident.

Short and around off, Shanzeen Shahzad stabs it down on the off side.

Ruchitha Venkatesh is the last batter.

OUT! JOYLEEN KAUR IS RUN OUT! India are just one wicket away from sealing a spot in the semis. Shortish again from Sharma, turning into the batter. Shahzad flicks it to short fine leg.  Kaur calls for a quick single. At first Shahzad hesitates, but then she commits to it. Smriti Mandhana gets to the ball, picks it up and fires it at the keeper's end, with Richa Ghosh dislodging the stumps. Joyleen Kaur has to dive, and the decision has gone upstairs. After watching several replays, the third umpire is convinced that Kaur is just a few inches away from reaching the crease before Ghosh breaks the stumps.

Run out check! Joyleen Kaur seems to be in trouble here.

Short of a length, at the stumps, Joyleen Kaur slogs it to long on for one.

Another one bites the dust. Joyleen Kaur is the new batter.

OUT! TAKEN! Third wicket for Deepti Sharma and with that, she becomes the leading wicket-taker in T20Is, going past Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong. Floated it up, fuller, at the stumps. Iqra Sahar plants her front foot to the leg side of the delivery and looks to swipe it away, but the ball takes the top edge before it loops behind the keeper. Richa Ghosh turns around and takes the catch safely to her right.

Turning in, pitching on a nagging length, on middle. Iqra Sahar looks to flick it away, but misses and the ball hits the back pad.

Stumping chance missed! On a good length, on middle. Sahar gives the bowler a premeditated charge but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. She tries to get her bat in line with the bal but is beaten past the inside edge due to the turn.

Iqra Sahar walks in next.

OUT! CASTLED! You miss, I hit, says Deepti Sharma. Looped up, full and on middle and leg. Siu gets down on a knee and has a slog across the line. The ball lands and spins back in to sneak past the inside edge before crashing into the leg stump. 173rd T20I wicket for Deepti and she is now level with Thipatcha Putthawong for most wickets in women's T20Is.

Full and angled in at the sticks. Siu clears her front leg and swipes it away to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Nicely bowled. Drifting in before turning away, on a good length. Siu has a tentative prod at the ball and is beaten past the outside edge.

Alison Siu walks out to bat in her 100th T20I.

OUT! CAUGHT! That is a fine catch by Nandani Sharma. This is a short-length delivery from Charani, pitching it just outside off and turning away. Marina Lamplough presses back to flick it away, but the ball spins away to catch the leading edge before it loops towards cover. Nandani Sharma charges across to her left and dives to take the catch inches off the turf.

Not out! Just a shade behind the fuller length, outside off. Marina yet again looks to heave it across the line, but Richa Ghosh gloves it and crashes the stumps, appealing for the stumping. However, the third umpire has been called into the action. The batter's back foot was out of the popping crease for a moment, but she managed to plonk it back.

Stumping check. Marina Lamplough's back leg did get dragged out of the crease, but she has managed to slide it back in time, the replays confirm.

Richa Ghosh has been pinged on the helmet. The physio is out for the concussion check.

Short of a length, slanting in, around off and middle. Marina Lamplough gets down on one knee to sweep it away, but the ball hits the batter's hips, and then the ball deflects off to hit the helmet of Richa Ghosh. There's a slight appeal from the bowler, but the umpire remains unmoved.

A touch fuller, angling in, around the leg stump. Shanzeen Shahzad goes deep into the crease and swipes it late to the right of short fine leg for a single.