Shafali Verma's knock of 42 followed by Deepti Sharma's three-wicket haul guided India to a 74 runs win over Thailand in the semifinal of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2022 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on Thursday (13).
With the win, India have made their eighth final in the tournament and the six-time champions will play the winners of the second semi-final, featuring Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which will also be played on Thursday.
The final will be played at the same venue on Saturday (15).
Thailand, who were bowled out for a paltry 37 against India in the league stage, won the toss and sent Harmanpreet Kaur's side to bat first. Opener Verma top scored with 42 while Kaur made 36 and Jemima Rodrigues chipped in with 27. Pooja Vastrakar's little cameo of 17 not out towards the end helped India register a total of 148 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
For Thailand, right-arm off-break bowler Sornnarin Tipochh was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.
Thailand's chase was in shambles right from the beginning as they lost wickets in a heap to reel at 21 for 4 in the eighth over. Captain Naruemol Chaiwai and Nattaya Boochatham scored 21 each to add 42 runs for the fifth wicket but it was only a matter of time before Thailand's agony ended. They ended up with 74 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
India's opening bowlers Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad took three (for seven runs) and two wickets (for 10 runs), respectively.
Thailand, however, finished with their best show at the women's Asia Cup this year in which they also beat Pakistan.
Brief scores: India 148/6 (Shafali Verma 42, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Sornnarin Tippoch 3-24) beat Thailand 74/9 (Naruemol Chaiwai 21, Nattaya Boochatham 21; Deepti Sharma 3-7) by 74 runs.
This photograph taken on April 28, 2026 shows a boy getting "thali", a sacred thread tied to his neck symbolising marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom.Getty Images
This photograph taken on April 29, 2026 shows a member of the transgender community mourning as a priest cuts the "thali", a sacred thread symbolising end of her marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom. Getty Images