Shafali Verma's 64 Powers India Past Bangladesh Into Seventh Straight Asia Cup Final

India Women continued their remarkable run in the Women's Asia Cup, beating Bangladesh Women by 40 runs in Semi-Final 1 to reach a seventh consecutive final of the tournament — a streak stretching back to its very first edition.

Sent in to bat after Bangladesh won the toss, India were powered by a stunning 64 off 40 balls from Shafali Verma, laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes. Contributions from Pratika Rawal (20), Richa Ghosh (21) and an unbeaten 24 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur pushed India to 149/6 on a surface that offered plenty for the spinners.

Bangladesh got starts throughout the order — Dilara Akter (21), Juairiya Ferdous (14), Sobhana Mostary (18) and Nigar Sultana (19) all made contact but couldn't convert. Deepti Sharma was the pick of India's bowlers with 3/26, and Nandani Sharma returned to finish things off with two wickets in the final over as Bangladesh fell to 109/7.

Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match. India now await their final opponents, to be decided when Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Semi-Final 2 on September 11, with the final scheduled for September 13 in Dubai.