Nepal Begins Triangular Series with Victory Over UAE in ICC World Cup League 2
Photo Credit, CAN
Nepal defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 37 runs in the opening match of the triangular series of the ICC World Cup League 2, held in Kathmandu starting Saturday.
Nepal is scheduled to face Oman in their next match on Monday.
Having lost the toss, Nepal batted first and posted a modest total of 200 runs before being all out in 48.2 overs. In response, UAE was also bowled out in 48.2 overs, scoring 163 runs.
The UAE appeared headed for an easy win at one stage while chasing Nepal’s target, but Nepal turned the game around to secure the victory.
This win adds 14 points to Nepal’s tally in the league table, while UAE remains at 10 points at the bottom. Had UAE won the match on Saturday, they would have been able to equal Nepal’s points.
Karan’s Four Wickets
Photo Credit, CAN
At the Kirtipur Cricket Ground, chasing a target of 201 runs, UAE displayed some uncertainty in the early stages.
However, a 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket between captain Mohammed Wasim and Akshdeep Nath suggested a smooth path toward victory. Wasim scored 34 and Nath 30 runs.
Sompal Kami disrupted this partnership, shifting momentum in Nepal’s favor. In the 33rd over, Sompal caught out Akshdeep, and in the 35th over, he caught Wasim. Both wickets were taken with shot-pitch deliveries by Sompal.
Karan KC single-handedly took four wickets, including the final wicket that secured Nepal’s win. He conceded 19 runs in 9.2 overs.
Dipendra’s 75 Runs
Photo Credit, CAN
Nepal’s batting hero was Dipendra Singh Airee, who scored 75 runs off 90 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes. Nepal had a poor start and reached a precarious 49/4 by the end of the 11th over.
As Nepal’s batting lineup steadily collapsed one after another, Airee stood out as the sole savior, working to uphold the team’s reputation.
Opening batsman Kushal Bhurtel scored 24 runs while Karan KC added 22. Arif Sheikh and Sompal Kami contributed 15 runs each.
For UAE, Juned Siddiqui and Ajay Kumar each took three wickets.
The wicketkeeper and opener Asif Shaikh was dismissed early, bowled by Tanvir when the score was just 8 runs.
This tournament is part of the ICC World Cup League 2 series, a high-level four-year one-day international competition created by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for Associate nations.
Each team will play 36 matches over the four-year span, significantly contributing to the development of Associate cricket.
The top four nations in the competition will earn One Day International (ODI) status and gain direct qualification to the Global Qualifier for the Cricket World Cup.
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