Nepal suffers four-wicket defeat against Pakistan A

KATHMANDU: Nepal opened its AFC Emerging Cup 2023 campaign with a four-wicket defeat against Pakistan A on Friday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal struggled against the Pakistani bowling attack and could only muster 179 runs on the board, losing all wickets in 37 overs.

Nepal’s both openers fell scoring just 12 runs in 3.6 overs. None of Nepal’s top and middle-order batsmen survived Pakistan A’s bowling attack as Nepal crumbled to 72/8 in the 16th over.

Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel contributed only 4 runs, while Bhim Sharki was out for a duck in 6.6 overs. Coming to bat at No.9, Sompal Kami scored 75 runs, which included nine boundaries and two towering sixes, to give some respectability to Npeal’s score.

Shahnawaz Dahani shone with a five-wicket haul for Pakistan, with Mohammad Wasim contributing four wickets and Mubasi Khan adding one wicket to his name.

Pakistan rode on Tayyab Tahir’s half-century to surpass the target in just 32.5 overs, losing six wickets.   Openers Hassebullah Khan and Saim Ayusb contributed 12 and 24 runs, respectively, while Omair Yousuf made 36 runs off 40 balls before he was caught by Arjun Saud off Kushal Malla. Kamran Ghulam chipped in with 31 runs.

Lalit Rajbanshi claimed three wickets for Nepal, while Sarraf took two wickets, and Kushal Malla had a wicket to his name.

Nepal will play its next match against India ‘A’ on Monday.