KATHMANDU, APRIL 2

Nepal clinched their second victory in the ongoing friendly T20 cricket tournament in Gujarat, India, triumphing over Baroda by a margin of 27 runs.

The match, held today at the Sai Meghpan Sportslife Ground in Vapi, Gujarat, commenced with Nepal being invited to bat first by Baroda. Nepal displayed a formidable performance, posting a total of 156 runs for the loss of 6 wickets within the stipulated 20 overs.

Noteworthy contributions came from Kushal Malla, who remained unbeaten with 40 runs, complemented by Sandeep Zora's 29 runs, captain Rohit Kumar Paudel's 18, and Gulsan Kumar Jha's valuable contribution of 13 runs to Nepal's tally.

Baroda's bowling attack, led by Baba Khan, managed to secure two wickets, while Parikshit Patidar and Mohit Mongia claimed one wicket each.

In reply, Baroda's batting lineup encountered challenges, eventually getting all out with only 129 runs on the scoreboard, falling short by 27 runs. Bhanu Pania emerged as the top scorer for Baroda with 36 runs, supported by Baba Khan's 27 and captain Vishnu Solanki's contribution of 25 runs.

Nepal's bowling unit showcased remarkable prowess, with Karan KC emerging as the standout performer, clinching three crucial wickets. Sompal Kami and Avinash Bohra also made significant contributions, securing two wickets each.

Additionally, Gulsan Kumar Jha and Dipendra Singh Airi each chipped in with one wicket, further consolidating Nepal's dominant performance.

Looking ahead, Nepal is poised to take on Gujarat in their third match scheduled for Wednesday.

Notably, Nepal had previously asserted their dominance in the tournament's opening match by defeating Gujarat by 8 wickets.