Nepal suffers two-wicket defeat against Ireland

KATHMANDU: Nepal suffered a two-wicket defeat against Ireland in the 7th Place Playoff of the ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023 in Harare on Tuesday.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal scored 269 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the allocated 50 overs. Ireland chased down the target, losing eight wickets with four balls to spare.

Nepal made a slow start in the game, adding 27 runs for the first wicket from 49 balls. The second-wicket partnership of Gyanendra Malla and Arjun Saud could only score 17 runs from 26 balls. Saud and Captain Rohit Bhurtel added 50 runs for the third wicket. Bhim Sharki and Kushal Malla provided a quick-fire partnership of 59 runs from 56 balls for the fifth wicket, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulshan Jha added 80 runs from 67 balls for the eighth wicket.

Gulshan Jha top-scored for Nepal with a 42-ball 57, while Arjun Saud scored 48 runs from 84 balls. Kushal Malla, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Rohit Poudel contributed with 44 runs, 32 runs, and 29 runs, respectively.

Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, and Craig Young took two wickets each for Ireland, while Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, and Andy McBrine claimed one wicket each.

Although Ireland had a slow start, two important partnerships turned the game in its favor. The sixth-wicket partnership between George Dockrell and Curtis Campher added 84 runs from 87 balls, while Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector added 58 runs from 62 balls for the fourth wicket.

Harry Tector and Curtis Campher scored half-centuries for Ireland. Campher scored 62 runs from 59 balls, while Tector made a 76-ball 60, including four fours and two sixes. Campher’s innings included eight fours and one six. George Dockrell and Lorcan Tucker contributed with 33 runs and 24 runs, respectively.

Karan KC took four wickets for Nepal, while Kishore Mahato took two, and Gulshan Jha and Sandeep Lamichhane claimed one wicket each.