Watch: India beat Nepal by 10 wickets at Pallekele on September 4 to qualify for the Super Fours of Asia Cup 2023. Watch the IND vs NEP highlights here.
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Rain had denied the Indian bowlers an outing during their tournament opener, against Pakistan. Here, they opted to bowl, and Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and Ishan Kishan grassed one catch each inside the five overs, off Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
Openers Kushal Bhurtel (38 in 25 balls) and Aasif Sheikh (58 in 97) made India pay, and Nepal raced to 65-0 in 59 balls before their middle order caved in against Ravindra Jadeja (3-40).
At 132-6, India seemed to have turned things around, but Dipendra Singh Airee (29 in 25 balls) and Sompal Kami (48 in 56) took them to 230 as Siraj finished with 3-61.
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Kami then began with an excellent over, but Rohit and Shubman Gill began to play their shots shortly afterwards. Rain stopped play with India on 17-0 after 2.1 overs, and their target was adjusted to 145 in 23 overs.
Rohit (74 not out in 59 balls, six fours, five sixes) and Gill (67 not out in 62, eight fours, one six) began cautiously again before exploding into an array of strokes. They completed the chase in 20.1 overs, without losing a wicket.
India have now joined Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Super Four. One of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will qualify after today’s match at Lahore.
Following rain alerts, India’s Super Four matches have been shifted from Hambantota to the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India will play Pakistan on September 10, and the two teams from Group B on September 12 and 14.
Jasprit Bumrah, who had returned home for the birth of his son, will rejoin them. KL Rahul, too, is expected to be fit by then.
