Blazing knocks by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill powered India to a 10-wicket win as per the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-interrupted match against Nepal in Pallekele on Monday. Both the batters returned unbeaten with Rohit scoring 74(59), and Gill adding 67(62) as India chased down the revised 145-run target in 20.1 overs.
The match was reduced to 23 overs after rain interrupted the show for almost two hours. With this India also advanced to the Super 4 stage. Meanwhile, Nepal produced a valiant effort after being invited to bat first as they managed to post 230 before running out of wickets in 48.2 overs.
What compounded India’s woes was their sloppiness in the field as they dropped a plethora of chances, allowing Nepal to capitalise. Apart from the catches, India also missed a host of easy fielding opportunities. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh added 65 runs for the opening wicket before Shardul Thakur removed Bhurtel for 38(25). Soon after his dismissal, Ravindra Jadeja joined the party and led India’s fightback. Jadeja scalped three wickets, while Mohammed Siraj chipped in with three more.
Aasif emerged as the standout batter from the Nepal camp, as he became the first from his country to slam a half-century against India. The opener scored 58(97) before getting out to Siraj in the 30th over. Sompal Kami also showed good intent and added 48(56) to Nepal’s total before getting out to Mohammad Shami in the 47th over.
Indian Skipper Rohith Sharma has the luck of the coin for the second time in a row by winning it fir the second time in a row.
Team India decided to ball, first against Nepal and they are with one change today, where Mommed Sami coming in the place of Jasprit Bumrah.
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s star pacer has been ruled out of India’s Asia Cup game against Nepal set to be held on September 4 at Pallekele. He has gone back to Mumbai from Sri Lanka for the birth of his first child.
Nepal too made one change, bringing in Bhim Sharki in place of Aarif Sheikh.
The match could be delayed a bit as a drizzle started just after the toss.
Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aarif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Bhim Sharki, Sompal Kami, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi.
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