Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 52 runs in the first match of its final ICC World Cricket-2 series at the TU Cricket International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur on Thursday.
Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal scored 297 losing all wickets in 49.1 overs as opener Aasif Sheikh scored his maiden century. In reply, PNG was all out for 245 runs in 47.1 overs.
The opening pair of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh added 110 runs for the first wicket. While Sheikh scored 110 runs from as many balls, Bhurtel contributed 45 runs from 56 balls. Although Nepal lost Kushal Malla and Gyanendra Malla cheaply, Rohit Poudel and Bhim Sarki played sensible knocks to take Npeal near the 300-run mark. Poudel scored 30 runs from 39 balls, while Bhim Sarki hit a 38-run 44.
Semo Kamea took five wickets for PNG, while Riley Hekure took three wickets. Alei Nao had one wicket to his name.
PNG also made a strong start in the chase adding 77 runs for the first wicket. But Nepali bowlers pegged them back, taking wicket at regular intervals. Opener Tony Ura and Norman Vanua scored half centuries for the visitors. Ura scored 50 runs from 44 balls, whlle Vanua hit a 55-ball 60. Captain Assa Vala scored 42 runs from 33 balls.
Sandeep Lamichhane took four wickets for Nepal. Similarly, Dipendra Singh Airee claimed two PNG wickets, while Kushal Malla had one wicket to his name. Three PNG batsmen ran themselves out.
Records Tumble
Nepal’s score of 297 is its highest in ODI matches. Nepali batsmen bettered their previous highest score of 287 scored at the TU International Cricket Ground against Namibia on February 14.
Aasif Sheikh became only the second Nepali batsmen to score 1,000 ODI runs. Sheikh achieved the feat when he scored a century against against PNG at the TU International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. This is also Aasif’s highest ODI score.
Interestingly, Aasif had made his ODI debut against the same opponent in September, 2001. Rohit Poduel is the only other Nepali batsmen with more than 1,000 ODI runs.
