Nepal put up a spirited fight against India in their Asia Cup opener, setting a competitive 231-run target at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
The Asia Cup debutants got off to a lucky start, with the Blues dropping three catches in the first five overs. The opening duo of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh put on 65 runs before Shardul Thakur broke the partnership.
Aasif Sheikh top-scored for Nepal with 58 runs, while Sompal Kami made a crucial 48. Dipendra Singh Aree and Gulshan Jha also chipped in with 29 and 23 runs respectively.
India made one change to their side, bringing in Mohammad Shami for Jasprit Bumrah. The bowlers struggled to contain the Nepal batters early on, but they eventually pegged them back and restricted them to a below-par total.
Nepal will be disappointed not to have converted their start into a bigger total, but they can take heart from the way they fought against a strong Indian side. They will need to continue to show the same fight in their remaining matches if they want to make an impact in the tournament.
The match was played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, which is a batting-friendly wicket. India’s bowlers struggled to find their rhythm early on, but they eventually made inroads and restricted Nepal to a below-par total.
Nepal’s batting lineup is inexperienced, but they showed some fight and put India under pressure. Nepal will need to improve their fielding if they want to be competitive in the tournament.
India will be looking to bounce back after their loss to Pakistan in their opening match. The article could also end with a call to action, urging readers to tune in to the next match and watch Nepal try to build on their performance against India.
