KATHMANDU, MARCH 3

Aasif Sheikh scored a brilliant half century and Sandeep Lamichhane played a pivotal role in batting as Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea by three wickets to stay alive in the top three race of the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today.

Batting first, Papua New Guinea were bowled out for 179 runs in 49.2 overs before Nepal reached 182-7 with 12 balls to spare in One Day International Tri-series. With their 14th victory in 31 matches, Nepal accumulated 30 points and remained on course for top three finish. Chasing a low total, Nepal top order faltered for the second straight match before Aasif Sheikh and Sandeep Lamichhane shared a 77-run partnership for the unbroken eighth wicket to guide the team to victory.

Nepal lost opener Kushal Bhurtel for a golden duck in the first ball of the innings, while Gyanendra Malla (six), Bhim Sharki (eight), skipper Rohit Paudel (one) and Aarif Sheikh (one) fell cheaply. With Nepal reeling at 53-5 inside 18 overs, Dipendra Singh Airee (eight) also returned to the pavilion on single-digit, while Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Malla (23) added 29 runs for the seventh wicket to take the team to three-digits.

Aasif Sheikh and Sandeep Lamichhane then took the team home without further loss adding a record 75-run partnership for the unbroken eighth wicket.

They emulated the previous best eighth wicket stand of 55 runs shared by Sompal Kami and Dipendra Singh Airee in the previous series at the TU Stadium last week. Sheikh remained unbeaten on 86 off 130 balls that included two fours and a six, while Lamichhane hit three fours in his 50-ball 35 not out.

Asad Vala was the pick of the PNG bowlers taking 3-21, while Semo Kamea and Sese Bau grabbed two wickets each.

Earlier, PNG batters struggled to build partnerships and their innings folded for below-par total.

Opener Tony Ura top scored with 39 off 51 balls that included two fours and a six, while Hiri Hiri contributed 31 and Kiplin Doriga made 26. Gaudi Toka (15), Norman Vanua (14), Sese Bau (11) and skipper Assad Vala (11) also scored in double figures but they failed to build their knocks into big ones.

Dipendra Singh Airee (2-30) and Sompal Kami (2-39) shared four wickets between them for Nepal, while Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane and Kushal Malla grabbed one wicket each.

With five matches to play, Nepal are at the sixth position in the seven-team table with 30 points, one behind the UAE.

PNG are at the bottom with seven points. Champions Scotland accumulated 50 points from 36 matches, while Oman - who are assured of top three berth - are second on 44. Namibia are at the third place with 39 points, while the United States are fourth on 35.

Nepal and the UAE – who will face each other in the last match of the tri-series on Monday - have chances to move to third place and both of them need to win five matches to unseat third-placed Namibia. Top three teams will earn direct qualification to the global qualifiers of the ICC World Cup, while top five sides will retain their ODI status.

Bottom two teams will join four others in the Challenge Cup playoff, which will send two teams to global qualifiers.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 4, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.