Shafali’s 81 Sets Up India’s Semifinal Berth in Asia Cup

Defending champions India crushed minnows Nepal by 82 runs in their final group encounter to secure their quarterfinal position at the Women’s Asia Cup T20 competition here on Tuesday. Explosive opener Shafali Verma hammered a career-best 48-ball 81.

Shafali and Dayalan Hemalatha (47), who opened the innings and gave India a flying start after stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bat, caused India to shuffle the batting order.

To set the tone, the opening pair blasted their way to 122 in 14 overs.

After that, Jemimah Rodrigues blasted an undefeated twenty-eight off fifteen balls, including three fours in the last over, to lead India to a commanding 178 for three.

Nepal could only manage 96 for nine in their 20 overs, largely due to some excellent bowling from the potent Indian attack. Nepal needed to reach the goal in or under 10 overs to top Pakistan on net run rate and qualify for the semifinals.

The most productive bowler for India was Deepti Sharma (3/13) who claimed three wickets, followed by spin teammate Radha Yadav (2/12) and seamer Arundhati Reddy (2/18), who replaced a rested Pooja Vastrakar, who claimed two wickets apiece.

Pakistan thereby became the second team from group A to advance to the semifinals.

Nepal found it difficult to chase the score, losing wickets frequently and reaching 52 for 4 in 10.2 overs. Seamer Arundhati dismissed both openers, Samjhana Khadka (7) and Sita Rana Magar (18).

After that, Renuka Singh (1/15) removed Kabita Kunwar (6) and Radha eliminated Indu Barma (14).

Then Deepti entered the game, eliminating Kabita Joshi(0) and Rubina Chhetry(15) before throwing Puja Mahato(2) straight out of the game.

Radha claimed the second victim, Dolly Bhatta (5), while Deepti claimed her third wicket, dismissing Kajal Shrestha (3) with a catch and bowl effort.

Shafali had earlier used her flicks to her advantage to practically play with the bowlers, launching 12 fours and a maximum off her blade.

While the Nepalese bowlers labored in vain, Hemalatha battled a little but chugged away with her experienced partner.

The openers proceeded to punish the bowlers, amassing 50 during the powerplay.

Medium pacer Kabita Joshi (1/36) was particularly harshly treated by Shafali, who smashed her for five boundaries. Off-spinner Sabnam Rai (0/41) was also blasted over the boundary a few times.

In the seventh over, the sprinting opener hit spinner Rubina Chhetry (0/14) over deep mid-wicket for her first six, then added another four with a slog-sweep. In the eighth over, she reached her fifty in twenty-six balls.

At the midway point, India was up 91 for no loss thanks to a straight six from Hemalatha, who was struggling to get the middle of the bat.

Left-arm spinner Sita Rana Magar (2/25) gave Nepal a chance to break the stand in the twelfth over, but seamer Indu Barma (0/29) missed a clean catch off Hemalatha at the boundary line.

But after a little shuffle off the same bowler, Rubina caught the batsman, and India lost their first wicket with the team at 122 in 14 overs.

Hemalatha scored 42 runs off of 42 balls, including five fours and a six.

Shafali kept punishing the bowlers, hitting Barma with two more fours, but Sita Rana eventually removed the opener with a mishandled delivery, leaving the keeper to finish the job.

After that, Joshi trapped S Sajana(10), but Rodrigues added a quick cameo to extend the innings.

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