Drop catches hurt India

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

Hosts India are one of the favourites to win this year’s World Cup, but many chinks in their armour were exposed in the Asia Cup clash against qualifiers Nepal yesterday as Rohit Sharma’s side put down three catches in the first five overs.

Against a Nepalese side sans any stars, you expected India to put up a far better show but they allowed Nepal to post 230 runs in a game yet again affected by rain.

Benefiting from awful catching, Nepal’s openers put on a less-than-run a ball 65 for the first wicket.

Kushal Bhurtel played some terrific shots making India’s formidable attack look ordinary. He scored 38 off 25 balls with three fours and two sixes while Aasif Sheikh played the anchor role posting 58 off 97 deliveries with eight fours.

India fought back reducing Nepal to 144 for six, but Sompal Kami at number eight hit 48 from 56 balls to give his side a decent total.

India were sloppy on the field giving away too many overthrows leaving too many question marks about their outfit.

Ravindra Jadeja with three wickets was the pick of the bowlers.

The winners of the game will qualify for the Super Four stage of the tournament.

There was a lot of speculation about the second stage of the tournament to be shifted from Colombo to Hambantota yesterday. Torrential rain in the capital has forced the authorities to look at standby venues and although Dambulla and Hambantota were picked as back up venues. As of yesterday, Hambantota had emerged as the preferred venue.

The Sri Lankan team is currently in Pakistan to play Afghanistan. A win over Afghanistan will see Sri Lanka and Bangladesh going through to the second round. While Sri Lanka had overcome Bangladesh, Afghanistan lost to Bangladesh.

The Super Four stage will start off in Pakistan before shifting to Sri Lanka.