END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs | NEP: 179/9 (24 runs required, RR: 8.95)

  • Karan KC18 (13b)
  • Abinash Bohara0 (0b)
  • Shivam Dube3-0-37-0
  • Avesh Khan4-0-32-3

12:30pm Right. That will be a wrap from us for this game. The cricketing action at the Asian Games continues, though, with Pakistan taking on Hong Kong in about an hour and a half from now. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) saying goodbye on behalf of Chandan, Ranjith and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care!

The pre-Asian Games expectations didn't have Ancy Sojan as a medal contender, but the young Indian won a silver medal last night with a show of exuberance and confidence that belied her youth and inexperience at the highest level.

12:23pm A 23-run win for India in the end, although there were numerous stages during the run-chase when they would have felt the pinch. Each of Airee, Bhurtel, Malla and Jora got starts. But none of them was able to convert it into a big score, like Jaiswal did. They could not get the finishing kick that Rinku provided for India either, although that can be put down to the number of wickets they lost in the middle overs.

Speaking of India, well, they will not be pleased with how they bowled. Arshdeep lacked his usual accuracy and sprayed the ball around. Dube was expensive, and yet bowled three overs, while Sundar, perhaps a front-line off-spinner, only bowling a solitary over. Bishnoi was superb, though, bagging three wickets and was ably supported by debutant Sai Kishore, who scalped a wicket and only gave away 24 runs in four overs.

While there were bright spots for India, on the bowling front that is, there are still some evident flaws that they need to iron out if they hope to go all the way. As for Nepal, they would be proud of the fight they showed, and this game might have provided them with a template of how to play against the big teams.

19.6
6
Dube to Karan KC, SIX, six to finish off but India win by 23 runs! Slower delivery that sits up to be hit outside off. Karan picks the length up nicely and dumps it over the long on fence. India move on to the semi-final but take nothing away from this brave and courageous Nepal display!
19.5
0
Dube to Karan KC, no run, full just outside off. Karan aims for the moon again and.......misses
19.4
0
Dube to Karan KC, no run, excellent yorker hung outside off. Karan swings and only connects with fresh air
19.3
0
Dube to Karan KC, no run, another top yorker just outside off. Karan scuffs it back to the bowler
19.2
0
Dube to Karan KC, no run, back of a length delivery angled across outside off. Karan swipes across the line and misses it by quite some distance

Five sixes and Nepal will be home...

19.1
0
Dube to Karan KC, no run, into the blockhole on off stump. Karan chalks it right back at the bowler

Dube to bowl the final over. Around the wicket

END OF OVER:
19 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | NEP: 173/9 (30 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.10, RRR: 30.00)

  • Karan KC12 (7b)
  • Avesh Khan4-0-32-3
  • Arshdeep Singh4-0-43-2
18.6
W
Avesh Khan to Lamichhane, OUT, holes out to long on! Well-disguised slower ball outside off that Lamichhane does not quite pick. He has an agricultural hack at it and mistimes it completely. Sai Kishore runs in and completes a regulation catch!

S Lamichhane c Sai Kishore b Avesh Khan 5 (4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00

18.5
1
Avesh Khan to Karan KC, 1 run, low full toss outside off. Karan reaches out for it and scuffs it down to long off

31 needed off 8. Two more boundaries and things could get interesting...

18.4
0
Avesh Khan to Karan KC, no run, off-pace and outside Karan's hitting arc on the off side. He swipes wildly at it and only connects with fresh air
18.3
4
Avesh Khan to Karan KC, FOUR, four more! Banged in on off stump. Karan continues swinging and this time, gets a top edge that flies over the keeper's head!
18.2
6
Avesh Khan to Karan KC, SIX, gets it right this time, though! Length on middle and leg stump. Karan stands up tall, swings through the line and pounds it over long on!
18.1
0
Avesh Khan to Karan KC, no run, full just outside off. Karan aims for the moon and no surprise that he makes zero contact

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | NEP: 162/8 (41 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.00, RRR: 20.50)

  • Sandeep Lamichhane5 (3b)
  • Karan KC1 (2b)
  • Arshdeep Singh4-0-43-2
  • Avesh Khan3-0-21-2
17.6
4
Arshdeep Singh to Lamichhane, FOUR, Watch. The. Spin. And. The. Bounce. Full toss on off stump. Lamichhane heaves it towards long on. Bishnoi comes hurtling to his left, overruns it and then cannot lay a hand as the ball hits the fence
17.5
0
Arshdeep Singh to Lamichhane, no run, off-pace and into the pitch outside off. Lamichhane swings like a rusty gate and misses the ball by a mile
17.4
1
Arshdeep Singh to Karan KC, 1 run, very full delivery at the stumps. Karan digs it out towards long on for a single
17.3
0
Arshdeep Singh to Karan KC, no run, back of a length on leg stump. Karan misses it as the ball pings off the thigh pad towards short fine leg. Lamichhane hares down the track and is then sent back. With him half-way down, Avesh, for some reason, tries the direct hit instead of getting it to the bowler. He misses his shy and Lamichhane escapes

Guha: "Worms are close, but India closed with Rinku" -- That looks like the difference, at the moment...

17.2
1
Arshdeep Singh to Lamichhane, 1 run, dug in short on off stump. Lamichhane fends it into the off side and gets off the mark

Lamichhane on strike. Karan KC, who is at the other end, has not faced a ball either

17.1
W
Arshdeep Singh to Gulsan Jha, OUT, picks out long on to perfection! Full and straight at the stumps. Jha gets his front foot out of the way and swings through the line. Gets a decent chunk of it but because the ball is so full, he cannot get under it enough. Arrows it straight to Jaiswal, who makes no mistake!

Gulsan Jha c Jaiswal b Arshdeep Singh 6 (6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

RRR: "worms are mighty close now!" -- Yes, they are but Nepal have probably lost a couple of wickets too many...

END OF OVER:
17 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | NEP: 156/7 (47 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.17, RRR: 15.66)

  • Gulsan Jha6 (5b)
  • Avesh Khan3-0-21-2
  • Arshdeep Singh3-0-37-1
16.6
W
Avesh Khan to Sompal Kami, OUT, what a catch at long on! Full toss on off stump and Kami, perhaps expecting another length delivery, is caught by surprise. Has a mow at it but does not get the timing he is after. The ball lobs up towards long on, where Sai Kishore comes tearing in, dives forward and snaffles up an excellent catch!

Sompal Kami c Sai Kishore b Avesh Khan 7 (5b 0x4 1x6) SR: 140.00

16.5
4b
Avesh Khan to Sompal Kami, 4 byes, oh dear! Slower delivery on a length just outside off. Kami has no clue about it and swings way too early. The lack of pace, though, means that the ball bounces just in front of Jitesh, bobbling past him and into the fence
16.4
1
Avesh Khan to Gulsan Jha, 1 run, into the blockhole outside off. The bottom hand comes off the bat as Jha tries to dig it out. The ball rolls off the toe-end towards mid wicket for a single
16.3
0
Avesh Khan to Gulsan Jha, no run, sharp bumper outside off. Jha hacks across the line but is awfully late on the stroke. Excellent thinking by Avesh to change up the length!
16.2
4
Avesh Khan to Gulsan Jha, FOUR, Jha gets his first boundary now! Hard length outside off but Jha has done brilliantly to get on top of the bounce and smash it over extra cover!
16.1
0
Avesh Khan to Gulsan Jha, no run, length delivery in the channel that hurtles through. Jha has a waft at it without any footwork and is beaten comprehensively

END OF OVER:
16 | 19 Runs 1 Wkt | NEP: 147/6 (56 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 9.18, RRR: 14.00)

  • Sompal Kami7 (3b)
  • Gulsan Jha1 (1b)
  • Arshdeep Singh3-0-37-1
  • Ravi Bishnoi4-0-24-3
15.6
6
Arshdeep Singh to Sompal Kami, SIX, full, wide and punished! Another loose delivery by Arshdeep and it gets dealt with. Kami slices it a touch but still manages to muscle it over the deep point fence!

Nepal 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st29K BhurtelAasif Sheikh
2nd33K BhurtelKushal Malla
3rd14RK PaudelKushal Malla
4th1DS AireeRK Paudel
5th45DS AireeS Jora
6th18Sompal KamiS Jora
7th16Sompal KamiGulsan Jha
8th0Karan KCGulsan Jha
9th17Karan KCS Lamichhane
10th6Karan KCA Bohara

Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition

Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
NEP220410.275
MDV2112-1.7
MNG2020-11.575
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
HKG22043.507
JPN2112-0.015
CAM2020-3.5
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
MAS22046.675
SGP21120.65
THA2020-7.325