The last two Asian Games 2026 women's cricket quarterfinals were played on September 18 at the Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, and both were one-sided. Defending champions India beat hosts Japan by eight wickets in the tournament's first-ever meeting between the two sides, while Sri Lanka beat Malaysia by 86 runs. The semifinal bracket is now complete: India face Bangladesh, and Pakistan face Sri Lanka, both on September 20.
India, opening their title defence fresh off an eighth Women's Asia Cup crown, were sent in to bowl first and never let Japan settle. Sree Charani was the standout with the ball, finishing with 4 for 10 off her four overs built around two double-wicket bursts, as Japan were bowled out for just 57 in 19.5 overs. Shafali Verma chipped in with 2 for 13 in the same innings. Chasing a modest target, Shafali then switched to bat, striking an unbeaten 40 off 15 balls — six fours and two sixes — to finish the game off well inside the 8-wicket margin. It was a complete individual performance in India's first-ever fixture against Japan at senior level, and it sends the defending gold medallists into the semi-finals having barely been tested.
In the tournament's other September 18 quarterfinal, Sri Lanka won the toss, batted first and posted 160 for 4 in their 20 overs. Malaysia's reply never got going in the chase of 161, and they were held to 74 for 7, handing Sri Lanka an 86-run win and a place in the semi-finals alongside India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
With all four quarterfinals now done — Pakistan and Bangladesh advanced on September 17, India and Sri Lanka on September 18 — both semi-finals are scheduled for September 20: India against Bangladesh, and Pakistan against Sri Lanka. The bronze medal match and the final follow on September 22.
India's win over Japan was as routine as a quarterfinal gets, but the semifinal against Bangladesh is a different proposition — Bangladesh went through their own quarterfinal without needing to bat or bowl a ball, so there is little recent form to read from either side heading into September 20. Sri Lanka's margin over Malaysia was similarly comfortable, though Pakistan arrive at that semifinal having already had to win a tighter, rain-affected chase against Thailand, which may count for something once the format tightens up in the medal rounds. For India, the deeper story is squad depth: Sree Charani and Shafali Verma sharing the bulk of the wicket-taking, with the top order barely required to bat at length, is exactly the kind of contribution head coach and captain Harmanpreet Kaur will want repeated against tougher opposition.
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Scorecards, individual figures and the semifinal schedule are verified against same-day match reporting, current as of September 18, 2026.
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