India’s juggernaut in the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 rolled on as they crushed Nepal by 82 runs in Dambulla on Tuesday, confirming their place in the semifinals with a perfect win record in the group stage. Pakistan joined them from Group A after their victory earlier in the day.
Openers Shafali Verma and Dayalan Hemalatha provided India with a solid foundation, stitching together a 122-run partnership. Verma, in particular, was unstoppable, scoring a brisk 81 runs off just 48 balls. While Hemalatha (47 off 42) struggled a bit with timing, Verma ensured a quickfire start, peppering the boundaries from the get-go.
After the openers’ departure, the Indian middle order couldn’t quite capitalize on the platform set, but with a strong total already on the board, it mattered little. India finished their innings at 169/7.
Nepal’s chase never really got going. The Indian bowlers were disciplined and clinical, picking up wickets at regular intervals. None of the Nepal batters could build a significant innings, as they were bundled out for a paltry 87 runs.
Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana used the opportunity to give some of the fringe players a chance in the middle order. This did disrupt the momentum slightly, but with the top order laying a strong foundation, it proved a minor blip in a dominant Indian performance.
This win sets up a mouthwatering prospect for the upcoming semifinals. With both India and Pakistan looking in sublime form, the battle for the Women’s Asia Cup title promises to be a cracker.
