India enters Asian Games Semi-Final after a comfortable win over Nepal
India entered the semi-final of the Asian Games after registering a comfortable 23-run win over Nepal. Opting to bat first after winning the toss on a difficult wicket India got off to a decent start courtesy of Yashasvi Jaiswal who was batting fluently as his batting partner and Indian captain Ruturaj struggled at the other end. Deliveries were holding on, there was spongy bounce and batters couldn’t waltz through the line. Yet, Jaiswal took the pitch out of the equation – cutting, pulling, and muscling monstrous sixes down the ground.
When he brought up his fifty off his 22nd delivery, Ruturaj Gaikwad was on 14 off 17, having survived a couple of lbw shouts and looking increasingly edgy to get the release shot. At 96 for 0 in nine overs, India had the platform.
The Early Scare
Dipendra Singh Airee who has already had a memorable Asian Games by scoring the fastest fifty in the T20 format off just 9 deliveries against Magnolia picked up Nepal’s first wicket when he had Gaikwad picking out the boundary rider in trying to hoick one to deep midwicket.
Tilak Verma who walked in to bat at number three found it difficult to bat and was dismissed early. Rohit Paudel’s fast off-spin and Sompal Kami’s accuracy kept him quiet until he chopped on for 2 off 10 in the 12th over. This was the passage where Nepal was making things happen and India was slightly edgy. This felled Jitesh Sharma too, playing a slightly different role here at No. 4 as against being the death-overs finisher in the IPL. India had suddenly lost 3 for 16 and was being sapped of momentum.
The Fight Back
It was the time when Yashasvi changed gears and took on the bowlers to bring up his maiden T20I century. The good work done by Jaiswal was continued by Rinku Singh who gave the finishing touches which took India’s score to 202-4
While chasing the target Nepal got off to a good start as the Nepalese openers attacked the Indian fast bowlers. Until the spin duo of Sai Kishore and Ravi Bishnoi picked up four wickets in the middle overs to derail Nepal’s chase helping India register a comfortable win by 23 runs
