Yashasvi Jaiswal’s majestic hundred, complemented by three-wicket hauls for Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan, were the highlights of India’s thrilling 23-run victory over Nepal in the first quarter-final at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou on Tuesday, October 3.
Batting first after winning the coin toss, Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, his opening partner, set the stage in what was India’s first appearance in the Asian Games cricket competition. Jaiswal set a blazing pace right from the start, while Gaikwad, who led the side, initially struggled to find his rhythm. Jaiswal swiftly reached his half-century and the partnership crossed the 100-run mark before Dipendra Singh Airee dismissed Gaikwad for 25.
Following Gaikwad’s dismissal, India lost Tilak Varma (10 off 2) and Jitesh Sharma (5 off 4) quickly. Despite the fall of wickets, Jaiswal kept on playing his shots and reached the three-figure mark in 16th over. His century came at a brisk pace as he took only 48 balls to reach the milestone. At 21, Jaiswal is the youngest Indian to score a century in Men’s T20I cricket. However, he departed shortly after an innings that including eight fours and seven sixes.
During the slog overs, Shivam Dube faced some difficulties against Nepal’s varied pace and spin bowling. Nonetheless, Rinku Singh changed the game’s momentum with his explosive hitting. His powerful wrists sent a couple of yorkers sailing beyond the boundary, forcing the bowlers to alter their lengths. Rinku’s unbeaten 37 runs off 15 balls, coupled with Dube’s unbeaten 25 runs off 19 balls, propelled India to a total of 202-4 at the end of 20 overs.
Nepal, in pursuit of the challenging 203-run target, displayed determination throughout their innings. Their openers, however, couldn’t provide the strong start they needed, and Aasif Sheikh was the first to depart in the fourth over, falling to Avesh.
Kushal Bhurtel, who scored 28 off 32 balls, played an array of shots before his dismissal in the 9th over. He and Kushal Malla (29 off 22 balls) steadied the innings after the early setback. India’s spinners, led by Bishnoi, played a significant role in turning the tide. Airee briefly threatened India with his cameo of 33 off 15 balls. However, all three frontline batters – Malla, Rohit Paudel, the captain, and Airee – fell victim to Bishnoi’s guile. In the latter stages, Avesh and Arshdeep Singh took control, securing India’s victory.
Nepal’s spirited performance pushed India to the limit, earning them admiration and support from fans. Ultimately, it was India who emerged victorious, and breathing sighs of relief. Their performance, while impressive, included giving away 12 extras, an area they need to work on ahead of their semi-final clash.