Zimbabwe defeats Nepal by eight wickets

KATHMANDU: Nepal opened its ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifier Campaign with a disappointing eight-wicket loss against hosts Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal scored 290 runs, losing eight wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Zimbabwe achieved the target, losing just two wickets with 35 balls to spare.

Nepal made a solid start with the bat, adding 171 runs for the first wicket in 31.5 overs. It was Nepal’s highest opening partnership. Kushal Bhurtel raced to 99 runs in 94 balls but fell one run short of a century. Aasif Sheikh fell in the 34th over, scoring 66 runs off 100 balls. Although Kushal Malla and Rohit Poudel tried to build the Nepali innings after both openers had failed, Nepal lost wickets at regular intervals and could only score 35 runs in the last 33 balls. Malla scored 41 runs from 42 balls, while Poudel scored 31 from 29 balls. Aarif Sheikh and Gulshan Jha contributed with 10 and 13 runs, respectively.

Richard Ngarava was the pick of the Nepali bowlers as he took four wickets, giving away 33 runs in his nine-over spell. Wellington Masakadza took two wickets, while Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani had one wicket each to their name.

Nepal made early inroads in the second innings, taking the wicket of debutant Joylord Gumbie in the eighth over. Gumbie scored 25 runs from 29 balls. But Craig Ervine played an excellent knock of 121 runs off 128 balls. Sean Williams batted aggressively to take Zimbabwe home with 35 balls to spare. He scored a 70-ball 102. Wesley Madhevere scored 32 runs from 38 balls before Gulshan Jha had him caught by Dipendra Singh Airee.

Gulshan Jha and Sompal Kami took a wicket each for Nepal. However, Kami injured himself while bowling his sixth over. His over was completed by Aarif Sheikh.

Nepal will play its next match against the US on June 20.