Shafali Verma shines as India book ticket to Asia Cup 2024 semis

Shafali Verma and Team India's complete bowling performance guided them to the semifinals of the 2024 Women's Asia Cup with a convincing 82-run win over Nepal. India topped Group A as the opening batter scored 81 runs, her career-best.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar were rested for the final group stage fixture. Smriti Mandhana stepped in to lead the side, and opted to bat first after winning the toss. Dayalan Hemalatha was sent out to open the innings along with Shafali. The pair started off fairly well, putting 50 runs on the board in the powerplay. Shafali looked comfortable from the off, reaching her half-century in just 26 balls.

Hemalatha, on the other hand, commenced her innings slowly and played the role of an anchor. She lost her wicket in the 14th over, falling just three runs short of her half-century and ending India's 122-run opening partnership. Shafali followed the way of her opening partner two overs later, registering her highest-ever T20I score of 81 runs. 

Sajana Sajeevan, who replaced Harmanpreet, came in at number three, but didn't last long on the crease. She was dismissed by Kabita Joshi on 10 runs off 12 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues provided a good cameo of 28 runs off 15 balls, hitting three boundaries in the final over and giving Nepal a target of 179.

The Indu Barma-led side had a shaky start to the second innings as Indian bowlers ruffled Nepal's feathers. Samjhana Khadka, who pulled off a Player of the Match performance in an Asia Cup opener against UAE, was the first batter to go back to the pavilion. Arundhati Reddy, who replaced Vastrakar, rattled the timber to dismiss the opening batter.

New batter Kabita Kunwar fell victim to Renuka Singh Thakur in the fifth over, before Barma came in and dispatched the seam bowler for two consecutive fours to release some of the pressure off her side. But Nepal could only manage to hit 31 runs in the powerplay. 

Sita Rana Magar, who dismissed Shafali and Hemalatha in the first innings, was involved in a steady partnserhip with the Nepalese captain, but it didn't trouble the Indian bowling unit. Radha Yadav struck for India, removing Barma, while Reddy picked up her second by getting rid of Magar. Nepal lost six batters when Deepti Sharma took two wickets in the 14th over by getting the better of Rubina Chhetry and Kabita. The off-spinner also ran Puja Mahato out in the very next over.

Radha sent Dolly Bhatta back to the dressing room in a soft dismissal, while Kajal Shrestha became Deepti's third prey of the day. Despite not bowling them out, India successfully restricted Nepal to 96 runs, sealing their spot in the semifinals. 

Brief scores: India 178/3 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 81, Dayalan Hemalatha 47; Sita Rana Magar 2/25) beat Nepal 96/9 in 20 overs (Sita Rana Magar 18, Bindu Rawal 17*; Deepti Sharma 3/13) by 82 runs. POTM: Shafali Verma