Kathmandu, December 3

Nepal registered a six-wicket win over Kenya in their second practice match at the Nursery Oval Ground in Abu Dhabi today.

Put into bat first, Kenya were bowled out for 110 runs in 32.2 overs before Nepal raced to 111-4 in just 19.5 overs.

Coach Jagat Tamatta once again rested skipper Paras Khadka, vice-captain Gyanendra Malla and bowler Basanta Regmi as he did against the USA two days ago handing the captaincy to Sharad Vesawkar.

Nepal rode on Dipendra Singh Airee’s quick-fire 35-ball 46 that included seven boundaries and a six, while skipper Vesawkar remained not out on 31 off 50 balls hitting three fours.

Nepal made a disastrous run chase with opener Dilip Nath (naught) being bowled by Lucas Oluoch Ndandason in the third ball of the innings, while Sagar Pun (one) was bowled by Nelson Odhiambo in the second over with only three runs on the board. Nepal were reduced to 29-3 inside eight overs after Anil Kumar Sah (13) was bowled by Odhiambo.

However, Vesawkar and Airee shared a 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket to ease the run chase before the latter was run out in the 20th over.  Aarif Sheikh hit the winning boundary in his three-ball four.

Earlier, Nepal restricted Kenya to a low score, with Lalit Bhandari being the chief destroyer. Kenya had a brilliant start with the bat after openers Rushab Patel and Alexauma Obanda putting in 54 runs before Karan KC had the latter caught by Shakti Gauchan in the sixth over. Obanda hit 13-ball 25 with the help of four fours and a six.

In the next over, Sagar Pun trapped Patel leg before the wicket for run-a-ball 27 hitting three boundaries and a six to reduce Kenya to 56-2. Bhandari then claimed three wickets in four balls put Kenya under pressure. Bhandari had Dhiren Gondaria (five) caught by Sandeep Lamichhane in the second ball of the 12th over and he bowled Rakep Patel (three) in the next ball. After missing the hat-trick ball, Bhandari claimed Collins Obuya’s wicket in the fifth ball of the over.

Kenya’s Gurdeep Singh (22) and Nelson Odhiambo (10) scored in double figures. Nepal’s Bhandari claimed 4-46, while Sandeep Lamichhane took 2-5. Karan KC, Sagar Pun and Aarif Sheikh claimed a wicket each.

Nepal played the two practice games ahead of their last round matches of the ICC World Cricket League Championship against the United Arab Emirates slated for December 6 and 8.