India scored 178/3 in 20 overs, where as Nepal scored 96/9 in 20 overs.
So, finally India beat Nepal by 82 runs.
India finished their league assignments with a 100% win record by registering a crushing 82-run victory 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 semifinalist 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 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 had enough in the tank to outclass Nepal comfortably.
The gulf in class and experience was evident as India were barely tested.
Nepal, with their limited resources and inexperience, put up a fight, particularly with the ball, preventing India from posting a bigger total than they eventually did.
However, those minor moral victories were all that Nepal could muster as India eased past them.
India
Powerplay: India Start Briskly with New Opening Pair
Phase score: 50/0 [RR: 8.33, 4s/6s: 8/0]
Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana decided to give other players a chance to bat, resulting in a new opening pair of Dayalan Hemalatha and Shafali Verma.
Shafali was at her fluent best, hitting boundaries in the opening over to set the tone.
Hemalatha struggled for timing, sometimes trying too hard to muscle the ball.
Despite a few loose balls going unpunished, India still managed a solid start.
Middle Overs: Shafali Goes Through the Gears
Phase score: 81/1 [RR: 9.00, 4s/6s: 9/2]
Nepal found no respite as Shafali continued to score boundaries at will, including a slog-sweep for a maximum off Rubina Chhetry.
Hemalatha also hit a maximum but never found her rhythm, eventually falling to Sita Rana Magar.
Shafali’s boundaries kept India’s momentum going even after Hemalatha’s dismissal.
Death Overs: Nepal Manage to Contain the Carnage
Phase score: 47/2 [RR: 9.40, 4s/6s: 7/0]
Nepal did a decent job in the death overs, especially after Shafali fell in the 16th over, stumped off a wild slog when a century seemed possible.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ 15-ball 28 helped push India’s total past 175.
Despite being poised for a 190-200 range total, Nepal’s efforts at the back end were commendable, though the total was still daunting.
Nepal
Powerplay: Seamers Strike for India
Phase score: 31/2 [RR: 5.17, 4s/6s: 5/0]
Samjhana Khadka started with a boundary off the first ball but was bowled by Arundhati Reddy in the next over.
Kabita Kunwar fell to Renuka Singh shortly after.
Nepal skipper Indu Barma and Sita Rana Magar found a few boundaries, but the overall scoring rate was too low to challenge 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, Nepal’s weak powerplay meant their chase was going nowhere.
Arundhati Reddy, Deepti Sharma, and Radha Yadav dominated, reducing Nepal to a string of wickets.
Deepti removed Rubina Chhetry and Kabita Joshy, while Radha maintained the pressure.
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 before the end.
Bindu Rawal’s unbeaten 19-ball 17 helped Nepal bat out their overs, hitting three boundaries in the last five overs.
Deepti and Radha took a wicket each, but Nepal’s last-wicket pair ensured they lasted the full 20 overs.
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