In a thrilling encounter at Pallekele, India faced off against Nepal in an international cricket clash, following the disappointing washout of the highly anticipated Pakistan-India game.
This time, however, the weather played a slightly more favourable role, allowing the contest to unfold. After a persistent threat of rain, India was given a target of 145 runs to win in 23 overs by the DLS method.
The stage was set, and the spotlight fell upon the dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who promptly ignited a scintillating 147-run opening partnership.
Their exceptional performance not only crushed Nepal’s hopes but also propelled India into the Super Fours round. Meanwhile, Pakistan had already secured their spot in the next stage from the same group.
Earlier in the day, Nepal’s fans had reasons to cheer, thanks to an impressive half-century by Aasif Sheikh. His innings, characterized by fluid strokeplay, was complemented by the aggressive play of Kushal Bhurtel in the powerplay and Sompal Kami’s muscular hitting in the slog overs.
Aasif’s fifty, achieved off 88 balls in the 28th over, had the Nepali fans dancing in the stands, accompanied by the rhythmic beats echoing through the stadium. Nepal posted a competitive total of 230 on a pitch offering varied challenges.
However, Nepal’s joy was short-lived as Rohit Sharma unleashed a flurry of aggressive strokes after a rain-induced delay. He artfully utilized unconventional shots like the scoop, slog-sweep, and reverse-sweep on his way to a breathtaking 39-ball half-century.
Shubman Gill, who had already punished Kami with three fours in an over before the rain break, continued to ride on Rohit’s brilliance. India’s early performance wasn’t without hiccups, as Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and Ishan Kishan dropped three catches within the first five overs, giving Nepal’s batters an unexpected advantage.
Nepal’s batsmen appeared at ease against pace, confidently driving in the ‘V’ and executing audacious ramps behind the wicket. Bhurtel, who received a couple of lifelines, made India pay for their lapses with his aggressive intent and flair.
His highlight moment came when he dispatched Mohammed Siraj over square leg and out of the park. However, Siraj struggled to maintain control, continuously bowling short and leaking runs.
India eventually found a breakthrough in the form of all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who provided them with the much-needed wicket in the last over of the powerplay. Aasif Sheikh’s determined innings ended at 58 off 97 balls, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj’s return to the attack with the old ball.
The left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav combined forces to tighten India’s grip on the match. Jadeja, in particular, proved challenging to score against, returning figures of 3 for 40 in his ten overs. Kuldeep, though not among the wickets, maintained economic pressure with his deceptive deliveries on a helpful surface.
Despite the mounting pressure, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami demonstrated their mettle, showcasing their ability to stand tall against India’s cricketing superstars.
In the end, Mohammed Shami, playing his first ODI since March due to Jasprit Bumrah’s unavailability, combined forces with Siraj to dismantle Nepal’s batting lineup, bowling them out for 230 in 48.2 overs.
However, it was the calm of Gill and the Rohit storm that ultimately obliterated Nepal’s bowling attack during a truncated chase, ensuring India’s triumphant march into the Super Fours.
