Nepal retains ODI status with a thumping win over UAE

 Nepal: Nepal has retained its one-day international status following an overwhelming 177-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in the final tri-series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 held at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Sunday.

                                    photo: tkp

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Nepal put up a decent score of 248 runs on the board for the visitors.

Nepali bowlers shined in the second inning as the UAE team was bundled for 71 runs in 22.5 overs. Only three UAE batsmen–Aayan Afzal Khan (29 runs), Ashwanth Valthapa (14 runs) and Karthik Meiyappan (11 runs)–were able to score in double digits.

Lalit Rajbanshi was the star of the Nepali bowling attack, claiming five UAE scalps in his 7.5-over spell with an economy of 2.55.

UAE opener Vriitya Aravind was Rajbanshi’s first victim as the former was dismissed for a duck. UAE’s Aryan Lakra, who came in third, was bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee for a duck in 2.4 overs. UAE captain Muhammed Waseem scored just a single run off eight deliveries before being caught by Kushal Bhurtel off Rajbanshi’s delivery two overs later. UAE was three down with eight runs on the scoreboard when they lost another batsman–Asif Khan–in 5.1 overs.

Nepal’s disciplined bowling paid off in the overs that followed as rest of the UAE batting lineup crumbled giving Nepal a commanding victory.

Sandeep Lamichhane bagged two UAE wickets while Sompal Kami, Aerie and Gulsan Jha claimed one wicket each for Nepal.

Earlier in the match, Nepal made a shaky start to their innings as it lost opener Aasif Sheikh, who went for a duck, at the end of the second over. Bhurtel followed his partner back to the pavilion after putting just eight runs on the board. Nepal were 3-22 in 7.1 overs after Kushal Malla was caught by Muhammad Waseem off Junaid Siddique’s delivery. He scored nine runs off 15 balls.

Skipper Rohit Paudel then came to the crease and held the innings for Nepal contributing 77 runs off 112 balls, smashing nine fours, before losing his wicket in 37.3 overs. He was named the player of the match.

Aarif Sheikh, Gulsan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee made 43, 37 and 34 runs respectively for Nepal as the hosts finished their innings with 248 runs on the board losing all wickets in 49.2 overs.

For the UAE, Aayan Afzal Khan, Zahoor Khan, Rohan Mustafa and Zawar Farid took two wickets each, while Lakra and Siddique bagged one wicket each.