Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by four wickets in its first match of the ICC World Cricket League-2 tri-series at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Monday.
This is Nepal’s fifth win in as many matches under new Head Coach Monty Desai. Nepal had earned first series clean sweep against Scotland and Namibia at home before traveling to Dubai.
Invited to bat first after losing the toss, PNG added 203 runs, losing nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Assad Vala and Chad Soper scored 36 runs each, while Sese Bau scored 31 runs.
Gulshan Jha took three wickets for Nepal, while Kushal Malla claimed two wickets. Sompal Kami, Karan KC, and debutant Pratish GC each had one wicket to their name.
Nepal achieved the target, losing six wickets with 28 balls remaining. Opener Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh added 76 runs for the first wicket in 14.5 overs. While Bhurtel scored 56 runs from 69 balls, Aasif Sheikh scored a 39-ball 44 runs. Although Nepal lost wickets at regular intervals, its middle-order batsmen scored valuable runs to take Nepal home.
Alei Nao and Semo Kamea each took two wickets for PNG, while Chad Soper took one.
Nepal will now play against UAE in the tri-series on Thursday.
