India drops 3 catches within 5 overs: The Nepal cricket team will be locking horns against India for the first time in international cricket. It will be a big moment for the Associate nation.
The Asia Cup debutants started off on a good note against Pakistan in the tournament opener. After dismissing both the Pakistani openers inside seven overs, they managed to keep a lid on the scoring rate in the first half of the innings.
With Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed’s centuries, Pakistan scored 342 runs and handed a 238-run defeat to Nepal. On the other hand, the much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash ended with no result after rain interrupted the game.
India drops 3 catches within 5 overs
Rohit Sharma-led India is scheduled to play the 5th match of Asia Cup 2023 on September 4 against Rohit Paudel-led Nepal at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele.
India who decided to bowl first made a sloppy start in their first bowling inning in the Asia Cup 2023 tournament. India’s first match of the tournament ended with no result after rain interrupted the match against Pakistan.
With many expectations floating around regarding the Indian bowling attack in the Asia Cup, Bumrah skips the match against Nepal and will rejoin the team for the Super 4 round.
In the absence of Bumrah, the Board decided to include Mohammed Shami in the playing 11 for the match against Nepal.
As expected, senior pacer Mohammed Shami opened the bowling attack while Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh opened the batting for Nepal. Within 5 overs, Indian fielders dropped 3 catches. In the very first over, Shreyas Iyer dropped Bhurtel.
0.6: Shami bowled a 132kph delivery where Bhurtel flashes his bat hard on seeing the line outside off, and gets a fat outside edge that goes to first slip quickly. Shreyas Iyer, at first slip, moves to his right but fails to hold onto it.
1.1: Siraj bowled a 133kph delivery to Aasif Sheikh where the ball pitched up outside off, and Aasif Sheikh leans and spoons it straight to the shortish cover point as he drives with the swing. Kohli hops to catch it and makes a mess of it and dropped a sitter.
4.2: Again Shami bowled a 143kph delivery to Bhurtel which the batter converted as a boundary. Shortish down leg, Bhurtel pulls and gets a glove on it. Ishan Kishan moves to his left and it’s a straightforward chance. Strangely, the keeper lets the ball go through him.
On winning the toss, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said: “We are gonna bowl first. No particular reason. We batted in the last game. We want to see what the bowlers have in offer for us. I don’t know about the weather. We just want to have the bowlers to have a game under the belt”.
“The way we batted under pressure, Hardik and Ishan batted brilliantly. Ishan showed a lot of maturity and took the game on as well. Good signs for us. It’s another important game for us. One change. Bumrah is not available, we’ve got Shami in place for him”.
The winner of the match will progress to Super Fours and the loser gets eliminated. The forecast at Pallekele once again isn’t great. If the match gets washed out, India will go through to the next round.
Nepal team captain Rohit Paudel said, ” We were looking to bowl as well due to the overhead conditions. Today is the biggest day for Nepal cricket. Great opportunity for us. One change, in place of Aarif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki comes in”.
As far as the match is concerned, Nepal scored 134 runs after losing 5 wickets in 30 overs. Gulsan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee currently stand at the crease with 18 and 1 run respectively.
