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.
Five sixes and Nepal will be home...
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
S Lamichhane c Sai Kishore b Avesh Khan 5 (4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00
31 needed off 8. Two more boundaries and things could get interesting...
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
Guha: "Worms are close, but India closed with Rinku" -- That looks like the difference, at the moment...
Lamichhane on strike. Karan KC, who is at the other end, has not faced a ball either
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
Sompal Kami c Sai Kishore b Avesh Khan 7 (5b 0x4 1x6) SR: 140.00
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