India confirm semifinal berth as Shafali, bowlers lead rout of Nepal

India finished their league assignments with a 100 percent win record by registering a crushing 82-run win over Nepal in Dambulla on Tuesday (July 23), thus confirming their semifinal spot. Pakistan, who beat UAE earlier in the day, were also confirmed as the second semi-finalist from Group A.

Shafali Verma's robust 48-ball 81 and her 122-run opening stand with Dayalan Hemalatha (47 off 42) set the platform for India's batting performance that did taper off after the openers fell. However, the total of 178 still proved to be far too many for Nepal as Deepti Sharma (3-13) and Radha Yadav (2-12) starred with the ball for India.

The difference: Experience and skills across departments

Despite resting regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar, India still had enough in the tank to outclass Nepal comfortably. The gulf in class and experience was visible, as India were barely tested. To their credit, Nepal with their limited resources and inexperience, put on a fight. Especially with the ball as they prevented India from posting a bigger total than they eventually did, more so after the century opening stand. But those minor moral victories were all that Nepal could muster as India eased past them.

India

Powerplay: India start briskly through new opening pair

Phase score: 50/0 [RR: 8.33, 4s/6s: 8/0]

Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana decided to give the other players a chance to get a hit in the middle. It meant a new opening pair for India as Dayalan Hemalatha strode out to open with Shafali Verma. The latter was at her fluent best, stroking a couple of boundaries in the opening over to set the tone. Shafali seemed at ease with her gameplay but Hemalatha struggled for timing, at times trying too hard to muscle the ball. It meant that a few loose balls went unpunished, but India still managed a solid start to the game.

Middle overs: Shafali goes through the gears

Phase score: 81/1 [RR: 9.00, 4s/6s: 9/2]

If Nepal expected some respite with the field restrictions lifted, they were wrong as the innings gathered further momentum after the powerplay. Shafali continued to plunder boundaries at will and also slog-swept a maximum off Rubina Chhetry. Hemalatha also struck a maximum during this phase although she never managed to get any rhythm to her innings. She even got a reprieve in the 12th over against Sita Rana Magar who eventually got the opener in her next over, caught at long-on. The dismissal had little effect on Shafali who smashed two boundaries off the next over to keep India's progress going.

Death overs: Nepal manage to keep a lid on the carnage

Phase score: 47/2 [RR: 9.40, 4s/6s: 7/0]

It's not often that a run rate of over 9-runs-per-over at the death is considered satisfactory but given the match situation and opposition, Nepal did a decent job. It helped their cause that Shafali fell in the 16th over, stumped off a wild slog when a century seemed there for the taking. Her dismissal caused a slowdown and if not for Jemimah Rodrigues' 15-ball 28, India would have had a bigger implosion in the death overs. Her deft touch with the bat gave a few boundaries to push the total past the 175-run mark. Given that India were poised for a 190-200 range total for most part of their innings, Nepal had done a decent job at the back end. The total, though, was still daunting.

Nepal

Powerplay: Seamers strike for India

Phase score: 31/2 [RR: 5.17, 4s/6s: 5/0]

In-form opener Samjhana Khadka started the chase with a bang by flicking Renuka Singh over mid-wicket for a boundary first ball but the opener fell in the next over, castled by Arundhati Reddy. An over later, Kabita Kunwar perished to Renuka Singh. Nepal skipper Indu Barma and all-rounder Sita Rana Magar picked up a few boundaries in the powerplay but the rate of score in general was too low to bother India.

Middle overs: Nepal's innings crash-lands

Phase score: 39/5 [RR: 4.33, 4s/6s: 3/1]

With a daunting total to chase, a weak powerplay meant that Nepal's chase was going nowhere. Their realistic ambition seemed to be to bat out the overs and the lack of intent allowed India's bowlers to dominate. Arundhati Reddy once again struck timber when she removed Sita Rana Magar while Deepti Sharma struck twice in an over to remove Rubina Chhetry and Kabita Joshy. Only three fours came during the middle overs as Deepti along with Radha Yadav put the squeeze on. Rubina, though, smashed a six before falling to Deepti. The cluster of wickets meant that Nepal weren't going to avoid a heavy defeat.

Death overs: India complete the formalities

Phase score: 26/2 [RR: 5.20, 4s/6s: 3/0]

The game was over as a contest long back and it was only a question of whether Nepal would manage to bat out their overs or not. Bindu Rawal's unbeaten 19-ball 17 ensured that they did. She also struck three boundaries in the process, the only ones Nepal managed in the last five overs, as the innings meandered to a drab finish. Deepti and Radha helped themselves to a wicket each during this phase but Nepal's last-wicket pair managed to see off the stipulated 20 overs.

Brief scores: India 178/3 (Shafali Verma 81, Dayalan Hemalatha 47, Jemimah Rodrigues 28*; Sita Rana Magar (2-25) beat Nepal 96/9 (Deepti Sharma 3-13, Radha Yadav 2-12) by 82 runs

What's next?

The campaign is over for Nepal who have been eliminated. While they suffered heavy defeats against Pakistan and India, their first-ever Asia Cup win that came in the tournament opener against UAE will be a memory to cherish for them. Meanwhile, India move towards the semifinals with their opponents yet to be confirmed.