India qualified for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup after beating Nepal by 10 wickets under the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-interrupted match at Pallekele in Sri lanka on Monday. Chasing a revised target of 145 in 23 overs, captain Rohit Sharma (74 not out) and Shubman Gill (67 not out) struck unbeaten half centuries to take India home with 17 balls to spare.
India reached 147 for no loss in 20.1 overs. Earlier, chasing 231, India were 17 for no loss in 2.1 overs when it started raining heavily, forcing the game’s second interruption. Nepal were bowled out for 230 in 48.2 overs. Brief scores: India 147 for no loss in 20.1 overs (Rohit Sharma 74 not out, Shubman Gill 67 not out) beat Nepal 230 all out in 48.2 overs (Aasif Sheikh 58; Ravindra Jadeja 3/40).
Bangladesh score big win
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto delivered when it mattered the most by hitting centuries as Bangladesh registered an emphatic 89-run win over Afghanistan to keep themselves alive in the Asia Cup at Lahore on Sunday. Chasing 335, Afghanistan struggled to maintain the required run rate which kept on increasing as Bangladesh bowlers bowled dot balls to building pressure on their opponents. Afghanistan did not have the best of starts as the big-hitting Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) was trapped leg before by Shoriful Islam in the second over. Brief scores: Bangladesh 334/5 (M Miraz 112 retired hurt, N Shanto 104) beat Afghanistan 245 in 44.2 overs (I Zadran 75, H Shahidi 51; Taskin 4/44, Shoriful 3/36) by 89 runs.
India, Pak share points
A contest that promised so much ended in a damp squib as a persistent drizzle forced both the Pakistan and Indian players to remain in the dressing room after no further play was possible in the second innings of the highly anticipated Asia Cup clash in Pallekele. India, who were bowled out for 266 in 48.5 overs after choosing to bat first, shared a point with Pakistan, who qualified for the Super 4s with three points, courtesy their crushing win over Nepal in Multan earlier in the week.
Lanka slay Bangladesh
Pallekele : Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka made resolute fifties after Matheesha Pathirana’s hostile bowling as Sri Lanka slayed Bangladesh by five wickets in their Asia Cup opener at Pallekele on Thursday. Pacer Pathirana’s 4 for 32 restricted Bangladesh to 164. The home side then rode on Samarawickrama’s 54 off 77 balls and Asalanka’s unbeaten 62 off 92 balls to overhaul the target in 39 overs.
Pakistan thrash minnows Nepal
Skipper Babar Azam hit a delightful 151 while Iftikhar Ahmed smashed his maiden ODI century as Pakistan thrashed minnows Nepal by 238 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup at Multan on Wednesday. Babar and Iftikhar played pivotal roles in powering Pakistan to 342 for six after opting to bat. Kushal Bhurtel made a brave start to Nepal’s chase with consecutive boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi on the opening two balls, but it was shortlived as the ace left-arm made a superb comeback to dismiss him and Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel in the last two balls of the over. Brief scores: Pakistan 342/6 (Babar Azam 151, Iftikhar Ahmed 109*, Mohammad Rizwan 44) beat Nepal 104 in 23.4 overs (Shadab Khan 4-27) by 238 runs.
