Nepal defeats US in thrilling Super Over finish in second T20I

KATHMANDU: Nepal has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match bilateral T20I series, defeating the US in the second match in the super over.

The match went to the super over as the US, chasing Nepal’s 170 runs, folded for 170 runs, losing eight wickets.

In the super over, Sompal Kami took two wickets in four balls to restrict the US to just two runs. In reply, Rohit Paudel and Kushal Bhurtel scored two and one run, respectively, to give Nepal a second victory in the series.

Batting first, Nepal scored 170 runs for the loss of six wickets, thanks to an unbeaten 92 off just 54 balls from Kushal Bhurtel. Bhurtel’s knock included seven fours and six sixes. Opener Anil Sah scored 25 off 31 balls, while Gulshan Jha and Rohit Paudel contributed 19 and 18 runs, respectively. Other Nepali batters failed to reach double digits.

Jasdeep Singh and Nosthush Kenjige took two wickets each for the US, while Saurabh Netravalkar claimed one wicket.

Chasing 171 for victory, the US lost opener Monank Patel in the second over for just one run. However, Saiteja Mukkamalla and Andries Gous added 92 for the second wicket to keep the US steady in the chase. Mukkamalla scored 47 off 41 balls, while Gous went out for 62 off 43 balls with just two balls remaining in the innings. The US needed seven runs off the last ball to level the series but could make only six, as they lost two wickets in the last over bowled by Sompal Kami.

Milind Kumar and Shayan Jahangir scored 15 and 14, respectively.

Karan KC grabbed three wickets for Nepal, while Sompal Kami claimed two, and Sagar Dhakal and Dipendra Singh Airee took one wicket each.

The final match of the series will be played on Monday morning.