KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 19
Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane shared eight wickets as Nepal hammered Oman by seven wickets in the One Day International match under the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II Tri-series at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat today.
Nepal invited the hosts to take the first strike after winning the toss and packed them for 121 runs in 37.1 overs. In reply, Nepal raced to 122-3 with 190 balls remaining, riding on fine knocks from skipper Gyanendra Malla and Aasif Sheikh, to register the historic victory. Nepal, who faced a five-wicket defeat in their previous match five days ago, had never beaten Oman in ODIs.
Bowlers set the tone of the match for Nepal as they were able to bowl Oman out for a below-par total. Nepal lost opener Kushal Bhurtel (six) in the fourth over with 16 runs on the board before Sheikh and Malla shared a record partnership of 95 runs for the second wicket to take the team within 10 runs of the victory. The 95- run stand between Malla and Sheikh is the highest partnership for all wickets in ODIs.
But Nepal lost two wickets in the space of nine runs.
Sheikh was dismissed for 44- ball 40 that included seven boundaries, while Rohit Kumar Paudel (six) lost his wicket cheaply. Malla and Sharad Vesawkar, who was included in the team for the first time in the series, completed the formality.
Malla struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 52 off 46 balls, while Vesawkar had the opportunity to score the winning single.
Malla, who reached his 50 with a six off Nestor Dhamba in 43 balls, became the first Nepali cricketer to have scored four half centuries in ODIs.
He was tied on three with Rohit Paudel after he scored 55 off 105 balls against the USA two days ago. Nestor Dhamba took 2-20 for the hosts, while Kaleemullah grabbed one wicket.
Earlier, Oman batsmen surrendered meekly in front of Nepali bowling attack. They struggled in building partnerships and lost wickets at regular interval. Man-of-thematch Karan KC removed last match's centurion Jatinder Singh (13) in the third over before Lamichhane dismissed another opener Sufyan Mehmod (four).
Part-time bowler Sharad Vesawkar took wickets after KC and Lamichhane claimed three wickets each and the duo returned to add one more apiece. KC finished with 4-25 from eight overs, while Lamichhane grabbed 4-18 from 8.1 overs. Vesawkar finished with 2-21 from six overs.
Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood fought the lonely battle scoring 41 off 66 balls with the help of two fours and a six, while tailenders Naseem Khusi (12) and Kalemullah (11 not out) were the other batsman to contribute in double figures for the home team.
Nepal ended the tri-series with two wins - one each against Oman and the United States of America - in four matches. Nepal earned four points from the tour to move two places up to fourth on eight points from eight matches.
Oman stayed at the top with 20 points from 13 matches, while the USA are second on 14 from 15 games.
Scotland are third on nine from eight matches. Namibia, who are tied on eight points with Nepal, are fourth on inferior run rate, while the United Arab Emirates are sixth on seven points and Papua New Guinea, who have played eight matches so far, are yet to open their accounts.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 20 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
