Smriti Mandhana delivered one of the standout innings of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 as India defeated Hong Kong, China to register their second consecutive victory in Group A.
Mandhana takes charge with a record-breaking 124
Asked to bat first, India were given a strong platform by Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who added 74 runs for the opening wicket from 47 balls. Once Shafali was dismissed, Mandhana continued to dominate the innings and ensured India maintained momentum despite regular wickets at the other end.
The left-hander struck 124 from just 64 deliveries, hitting 14 fours and seven sixes. No other India batter went beyond 11, making Mandhana's contribution the defining feature of the innings as India finished on 193 for five from their 20 overs.
Historic milestones for Mandhana
The century also carried major historical significance. Mandhana moved to 10,880 runs across international cricket, surpassing former India captain Mithali Raj's tally of 10,868 to become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket.
It was also Mandhana's 18th international century across formats, taking her past former Australia captain Meg Lanning for the most centuries in women's international cricket.
India's bowlers close the door on Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China faced a target of 194 but were unable to build sustained partnerships against an Indian attack that maintained pressure throughout the chase.
Deepti Sharma led the bowling effort with three wickets for nine runs. Nandni Sharma, Prema Rawat and Sree Charani added two wickets each as India completed a convincing victory.
Second straight win puts India on top of Group A
The result gave India their second win in succession at the tournament and moved them to the top of Group A. India had earlier opened their campaign with a 94-run win over Thailand.
With the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals, every Group A result remains important as the competition moves toward its knockout stage.
Pakistan next for India
India's next Group A assignment is against Pakistan on 5 September. The fixture will be their first meeting since the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 and will be one of the headline matches of the group stage.
Mandhana's form gives India a major boost heading into that contest, while the bowling unit will also take confidence from another disciplined performance.
Information checked through 4 September 2026.