Nepal, playing for the first time against cricket’s superpower India, faced a 10-wicket defeat in the rain-affected final Group A match of the Asia Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka, on Monday.

Despite the hammering by India, Nepal came up with an improved show in batting and salvaged some pride putting up a respectable total of 230-10 in 48.2 overs after sent into bat first.

But the two-time champions India were set a revised target of 145 runs in 23 overs in DLS method. Openers Rohit Sharma and Subhman Gill made light work of Nepal scoring unbeaten half centuries each, scoring 147 runs in 20.1 overs.

Sharma cracked 74 runs off 59 that included six hits to the fences and five sixes. Gill’s 61-run 63 was studded with eight hits to fences and a six including the winning boundary. Leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane was the most expensive bowler for Nepal conceding 39 runs in his four-over spell. Karan KC returned the match figures of 4-0-26-0, Lalit Rajbanshi 4-0-24-0 and Kushal Malla 3-0-11-0.

Nepal’s total was largely built on a half century by opener Aasif Sheikh, a decent start of the innings and remarkable performances by middle and lower middle order.

India were given a revised target after their chase was interrupted nearly for two hours for the second time with 17-0 on board after 2.1 overs. Nepal’s innings also faced similar fate as the match was halted for about 45 minutes with 178-6 in 37.5 overs.

The outcome meant Pakistan and India progressed into Super Four from Group A as group winners and runners-up, respectively, with three points each while Nepal crashed out, remaining pointless. India and Pakistan had on Saturday shared points after the second innings of the game was not possible due to rainfall.

For Nepal, opener Sheikh scored the innings’ highest 58 runs while all-rounder Sompal Kami, batting at number eight, contributed 48 runs off 56.

Sheikh also became the first Nepali player to reach a half century at the Asia Cup. He stitched together a 65-run partnership for the opening wicket with Kushal Bhurtel, who made a remarkable contribution of 38 runs off 25.

Sheikh cracked eight hits to the fences before Virat Kohli caught him at short cover in a delivery by pacer Mohammed Siraj. He was dismissed as fifth wicket in the 30th over.

His opening partner Bhurtel smashed three fences and two sixes in his 25-ball knock. He became the third Nepali player to reach the milestone of 1000 ODI runs after captain Rohit Paudel and Sheikh. Shardul Thakur had him caught by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

The duo, however, got early lifelines after Bhurtel was dropped early on by Shreyas Iyer in the first over and Kishan in the fifth over. Sheikh was also dropped by Virat Kohli in the second over.

Kami’s 56-ball knock was studded with a boundary and two sixes. He also shared a 50-run partnership with Dipendra Singh Airee for the seventh wicket. Airee contributed 29 runs off 25 that included three hits to boundaries before Hardik Pandya struck him lbw.

Middle order batter Gulsan Jha scored 23 off 35 as other batters were dismissed in single digit figures. Karan KC was not out on two runs.

Spinner Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Siraj claimed three wickets each for India. Jadeja conceded 40 runs in his 10-over spell while Siraj gave away 61 runs in his 9.2-over spell that also included a maiden over. Shami, Pandya and Thakur shared a wicket each.