Asian Games: India beat Nepal by 23 runs, storm into semis

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Indian team dished out a clinical show and beat Nepal by 23 runs in the quarter-final of the ongoing Asian Games by 23 runs.

Hangzhou (China): The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Indian team dished out a clinical show and beat Nepal by 23 runs in the quarter-final of the ongoing Asian Games by 23 runs.

Opted to bat, India rode on a blistering hundred by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hammered eight boundaries and seven sixes, to post a mammoth 202/4 in the allotted 20 overs. It was all the Jaiswal show in Hangzhou as he took the Nepal bowlers to cleaners. The southpaw round the park and took the listless Nepal attack to submission.

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwas could not convert his start and was dismissed on 25 off 23 balls. Young Tilak Varma (2), who walked at number three, fell cheaply for 2 and so did wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma (5).

However, the falling of partners did not deter Jaiswal from playing his shots. He found an able ally in Shivam Dube (25 not out off 19 balls), as they ensured that India reached the 150-run mark.

After Jaiswal departed after being caught by Abinash Bohara, it was Rinku Singh, who provided the final flourish. Rinku's unbeaten 15-ball 37, in which he smashed four towering ensured that the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team crossed the 200-run mark.

Indian bowlers then restricted Nepal to 179/9 with Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi taking three wickets each. Pacer Arshpdeep Singh and spinner R Sai Kishore took one wicket each.

Nepal lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually of the target as it was an easy win for the Men in Blue.