Twitter Reactions: Shafali Verma, bowlers string together instrumental victory for India

India Women. (Source – Twitter/X)

Match 10 of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, which was India’s third and final league-stage encounter, marked the first instance where they won the toss.

Their decision to bat first swiftly proved beneficial, as four of the six powerplay overs amassed 10 runs or more. Shafali Verma emerged as the aggressor, while Dayalan Hemalatha maintained a scoring rate of less than run-a-ball.

The decision by standby skipper, Smriti Mandhana, to lower herself in the batting order to give other players a chance proved advantageous, as the Indian team surged past the 100-run mark by the 11th over. The opening partnership was ultimately broken at 122 on the final delivery of the 14th over; however, by that point, the damage had already been caused.

Verma seemed poised for a maiden T20I century but was stumped while attempting an extravagant swing on the third delivery of the 16th over. Left-arm orthodox, Sita Rana Magar, who emerged as the standout performer from the Nepalese side, secured her second wicket of the evening with that dismissal. A brisk unbeaten 28* off 15 deliveries from Jemimah Rodrigues propelled her side to a formidable total of 178/3 by the close of their innings.

Also Check: Most Runs in Women’s Asia Cup 2024

In the run-chase, the Nepalese struggled to build momentum and were unable to seize their chance, losing a couple of wickets during the powerplay with merely 31 runs on the board. The dismissal of Rana Magar exacerbated their difficulties, as the Nepalese side faltered to 52/4 by the 11th over, at which point the Indians had amassed nearly double that total during the first innings.

India persisted in claiming wickets at regular intervals, with Tanuja Kanwar delivering a maiden over, followed by a double-wicket over from Deepti Sharma, the leading wicket-taker of the ongoing edition so far. This series of events decisively determined the fate of the Nepalese side, who ultimately managed only 96 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Arundhati Reddy and Sajeevan Sajana were the only bowlers to concede runs at a rate exceeding 7 runs per over.

Check Here: Most Wickets Women’s Asia Cup 2024

With this decisive 82-run triumph, India advanced to the semi-finals of the competition, Pakistan being the other team from their group.

Here’s how X reacted to the game:

SHAFALI VERMA ON FIRE! 🔥 10th T20I fifty for the #TeamIndia opener! She’s playing a cracking knock in the #WomensAsiaCup2024 against Nepal! Keep going, Shafali! #TheShafaliVerma #WomensCricket #INDvNEP pic.twitter.com/6hqC4s6HOB

— Akshay Tadvi 🇮🇳 (@AkshayTadvi28) July 23, 2024

Kabita Joshi to Shafali Verma, FIFTY FOR SHAFALI VERMA! That was quick! Tossed up on middle. Shafali Verma punches it to long on for a single to reach her milestone.✌️#INDvsNEP #Budget2024 #sldk #Viralvideo #Trump #NEET #OlympiacosBC pic.twitter.com/CadDrDbQjj

— Vijay__🇮🇳 (@Vijay_Sancholi_) July 23, 2024

India women set a target of 179 for nepal women, Great opening partnership by Shafali Varma, Dayalan Hemalatha and Good finish by Jemimah Rodrigues.

— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) July 23, 2024

Really worst batting from India
Believing this Indian women’s team is the worst thing ever in my life
Pls god Delete this fucking team from my mind
Yerripuku jemmiah mokam dhaana 2nd run try aina chesi chavocchuga#WomensAsiaCup2024 #INDvNEP

— Abhi Kalyan (@Abhi_KalyanBabu) July 23, 2024

India Women have posted a decent total of 178/3 in 20 overs against the Nepal Women Asia Cup 2024. 🇮🇳🔥🔥

Nepal Women need 179 runs to win in 20 overs against India Women.#TeamIndia #INDvNEP #INDWvNEPW #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2024 #WomensAsiaCup2024 pic.twitter.com/eXbCCdkmuu

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) July 23, 2024

Sita Rana Magar You Beauty 🤌 Takes Down Set’s Batter Saifali. Crucial 2 Wickets For Team Nepal In First Match Against India. ACC Women’s Aisa Cup 2024. #NEPvsIND pic.twitter.com/mbKS7Le3FM

— SaLekhnath (@SaLekhnath) July 23, 2024

Fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup

25 balls – Smriti Mandhana🇮🇳 v SL, 2022
26 balls – Richa Ghosh🇮🇳 v UAE, 2024
26 balls – Shafali Verma🇮🇳 v MLY, 2024

2 of them are by Indian 20 year olds in back-to-back games.

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) July 23, 2024

#INDvNEP IND 6 POINTS pic.twitter.com/i1EPykRoqZ

— Vamshi Stambamkadi (@Film_Director_) July 23, 2024

Another comfortable win for Team India against Nepal in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024. 🇮🇳🔥

They defeated Nepal by a margin of 82 runs with this India booked their place in the Semi-final. 👏👏@BCCIWomen #TeamIndia #INDvNEP #INDWvNEPW #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2024 #WomensAsiaCup2024 pic.twitter.com/zD3C1TjUwJ

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) July 23, 2024

Nepal have had a rather impressive campaign

They were the lowest ranked team in the group but still finished 3rd and got their 1st win ever in the Asia Cup

A team that has a lot of potential & can move up the rankings#AsiaCup2024 #WomensAsiaCup #WomensAsiaCup2024 #INDvNEP

— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) July 23, 2024