India vs Nepal in the Women’s Asia Cup T20, 2024 India defeated Nepal by 82 runs to advance to the semifinals.

In an exciting T20I match, the Indian women’s cricket team showcased their dominance against Nepal, securing a comprehensive victory. India batted first and set a formidable target, while the bowlers ensured a comfortable win by restricting Nepal to a low score.

India’s Batting Performance

Opting to bat first, India posted an imposing total of 178/3 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation for this robust score was laid by an excellent opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Dayalan Hemalatha.

• Shafali Verma’s Explosive Knock: Shafali Verma was the standout performer with the bat, scoring a blistering 81 runs. Her innings was characterized by aggressive stroke play, which included a series of boundaries and sixes that put immense pressure on the Nepalese bowlers. Verma’s ability to find gaps and clear the boundary at will demonstrated her prowess in the shortest format of the game.
• Support from Hemalatha and Rodrigues: Dayalan Hemalatha provided solid support at the other end, contributing a valuable 47 runs. Their partnership ensured a steady flow of runs and set a strong platform for the middle order. Jemimah Rodrigues also played a crucial role, adding 28 runs to the total and maintaining the momentum set by the openers.

Nepal’s Bowling Efforts

While Nepal’s bowling attack found it difficult to contain the Indian hitters, Sita Rana Magar’s performance was particularly noteworthy. She demonstrated her all-around skills by taking two significant wickets in addition to making a batsman’s contribution. The other bowlers failed to force a big dent in the Indian batting lineup despite her best efforts.

Nepal’s Batting Struggles

Nepal’s batting lineup struggled against a disciplined Indian bowling attack while chasing a lofty target of 179. They were far short of the target, scoring 96/9 in their 20 overs.

Sita Rana Magar’s Lone Battle: Sita Rana Magar was the top scorer for Nepal, managing 18 runs. Her resistance, however, was not enough to steer Nepal towards a competitive total as she lacked substantial support from the other end.

India’s Dominant Bowling

India’s bowlers were clinical in their approach, effectively dismantling the Nepalese batting order.

• Deepti Sharma’s Spin Magic: Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets. Her ability to bowl economically while taking crucial wickets derailed Nepal’s chase early on.

• Contributions from Other Bowlers: Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, and Radha Yadav also played pivotal roles. Renuka Singh took 1 wicket, while Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav each bagged 2 wickets, ensuring that the pressure was maintained throughout Nepal’s innings.

With help from Jemimah Rodrigues (28 runs), Shafali Verma (81 runs) and Dayalan Hemalatha (47 runs) put up great performances to build India’s total of 178/3. Nepal was only able to reply with 96/9, the highest scoring individual being Sita Rana Magar with 18 runs. Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav both contributed two wickets apiece, but Deepti Sharma stole the show for India with the ball.