Nepal defeats PNG by three wickets

KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by three wickets in the ICC World Cricket League-2 tri-series at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Batting first after winning the toss, PNG scored 179 runs losing all wickets in 49.2 overs. Nepal overcame the target with two overs to spare losing seven wickets, thanks to a fighting half century by opener Aasif Sheikh.

PNG made a good start, adding 42 runs in 10 overs for the first wicket. Openers Toura Ura and Kiplin Doriga scored 39 and 26 runs, respectively. But Nepali bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to peg PNG back. Except for Hiri Hiri, who scored 31 runs from 63 balls, the PNG middle order failed to make a significant contribution. Four PNG batsmen failed to reach double digits.

Chasing a low target, Nepal made a poor start, losing opener Kushal Bhurtel for a golden duck. The other opener, Aasif Sheikh, played a patient knock, even though wickets fell at regular intervals. He remained unbeaten at 86 runs from 130 balls. Nepal was languishing at 6-74 in the 23rd over, but Kushal Malla and Sandeep Lamichhane forged a good partnership with Sheikh to steady Nepal’s chase. Except for Kushal Malla, who scored 23 runs from 26 balls, and Sandeep Lamichhane, who remained not out at 35 runs from 50 balls, other Nepali batsmen failed to reach double digits.

Nepal will now play UAE in its last match of the tri-series on Monday.