Kathmandu, December 21

Nepali bowler Sandeep Lamichhane made an impressive debut in the Big Bash League although his Melbourne Stars side faced a 15-run defeat against Sydney Thunder in Canberra, Melbourne today.

Batting first, Thunder posted 181-5 in 20 overs before Stars — chasing a revised target of 90 from eight overs after a rain delay — reached 74-6. For Lamichhane, the opening match of the Australian premier league was not less than a dream beginning as he returned with the figures of 2-36 from four overs.

Lamichhane, who got the ball in the eighth over, sent two Australian cricketers back to the pavilion conceding just three runs in his first over. He had Shane Watson caught by Nick Larkin at long on in the second ball, while Lamichhane took a return catch to dismiss Callum Ferguson in the sixth delivery.

Lamichhane conceded just six runs in his second over, while Jason Sangha hit him for a six in the final ball of the third over that yielded 13 runs. Lamichhane then conceded 14 runs in his final over with Sangha hitting him for two sixes. Sangha was the top scorer with an unbeaten 63 off 36 balls that included four each boundaries and sixes.