India vs Nepal Highlights: Women's Asia Cup

In a standout performance, Shafali Verma's impressive 81, complemented by Jemimah Rodrigues' swift 28 off 15 balls, propelled India to a commanding victory over Nepal, securing a spot in the semi-finals.
India scored 178 for 3, with Shafali and D Hemalatha contributing significantly at the top of the order. Hemalatha added 47 runs, while Nepal's Magar took 2-25.
In response, Nepal struggled against India's disciplined bowling attack, managing only 96 for 9. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-13, supported by Radha Yadav's 2-12 and Pooja Vastrakar's 2-28.

Shafali's Explosive Performance Powers India to Semi-Finals

This victory marks India's third consecutive win in Group A of the Women's Asia Cup 2024, securing their position at the top. Pakistan also advanced to the knockouts after defeating UAE earlier in the day, finishing with two wins out of three matches.
Opting to bat first, India, led by Smriti Mandhana, set a formidable total, largely due to Shafali's explosive innings and a strong opening partnership with Hemalatha. Nepal, unused to playing under lights and facing a potent Indian bowling attack, could not rise to the challenge and fell short, finishing at 96 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Shafali Shines, Hemalatha Struggles

With a semi-final berth nearly secured, India decided to rest their regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, giving opportunities to S Sajana and Arundhati Reddy. A tactical shift saw Hemalatha promoted to open alongside Shafali Verma. The duo initially took their time to get a feel for the pitch, missing out on several loose deliveries. However, Shafali soon found her rhythm and began to dominate, a sharp contrast to her partner's performance.
Hemalatha, after scoring an unbeaten 41 against Bangladesh in April, had only surpassed 30 once in her next eight innings across ODIs and T20Is before this match. This game against an Associate team on a slow pitch presented a perfect opportunity for her to solidify her place in the XI. Despite managing a few powerful shots due to her strong bottom hand, Hemalatha struggled to maintain consistency, ending with a 42-ball 47.
In contrast, Shafali took full advantage of Nepal's inconsistent bowling. She displayed a variety of strokes, including flicks, straight drives, and slog sweeps, showing aggressive intent throughout. India reached 50 for 0 at the end of the powerplay, with Shafali achieving her tenth T20I fifty in the eighth over, off just 26 balls. By the halfway mark, India stood at 91 for 0, on track for another 200-plus total.

India Concludes Strongly Despite a Brief Slowdown

Nepal's seasoned left-arm spinner Sita Rana Magar halted India's momentum by dismissing Hemalatha and Shafali in the 14th and 16th overs, respectively. Shafali concluded her impressive innings with 12 fours and a six. At the same time, their 122-run opening partnership marked the highest opening stand in Women's T20 Asia Cup history and the second-highest for any wicket.
Sita Rana Magar emerged as Nepal's standout bowler. India’s run rate dipped with the arrival of new batters, but Jemimah Rodrigues' smart play, which included five fours in her unbeaten 15-ball 28, pushed India close to the 180 mark. Sajana, like Hemalatha, found it challenging during her 12-ball stint. Whether India continues with Hemalatha or gives Sajana more opportunities at No. 3 will be an interesting development to watch as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in October.

Reddy Seizes Her Chance