Published: Jul 19, 2016, 10:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 19, 2016, 11:19 PM (IST)
Nepal spinner’s bowled with much guile and skill to bundle out Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) XI for 176 runs chasing 218 set by them at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. This was also Nepal’s first ever game at the Mecca of Cricket, which saw the visitors scoring 217 runs on board in their quota of 50 overs. What stood out for Nepal, were their spinners, who struck at regular intervals to hand a historic victory to them. Sagar Pun and Basanta Regmi, were the star with the ball picking up 3-wickets apiece. For MCC XI, it was only Adair, who stood out with the bat making excellent 100, which deserved to end up on the winning side. Live Cricket Updates, Nepal vs MCC XI, One-Day game, Lord’s
Nepal’s Pun started off the MCC batting collapse snatching as many as three middle order batsmen in — Phillips who went for 0, Perren who was adjudged leg-before for 3 and Overy who again was trapped on the pads for 9. This lead to a batting downfall by MCC XI, which was only resilient because of Adair. Adair stuck a 123-ball 100 to provide some saving grace for the MCC team. Clark was the first man to go for MCC after Shakti Gauchan got him bowled for 16 runs.
Sandip Lamichhane, who was eagerly awaited bowled only 6 overs and picked up a solitary wicket for 25 runs. Lamichhane picked up Coles for 6 runs. Regmi and Sompal Kami cleaned up the tail. Wilkinson who supported Adair, stayed in the middle for 31 balls. Regmi bowled Dutch for 6. The final wicket to fall for MCC XI was Senneck who again was cleaned up by Regmi again for 0, handing Nepal a 41-run victory.
Earlier, after winning the toss Nepal skipper Paras Khadka decided to bat on a wicket, which had been used during the England vs Pakistan 1st Test just a day before. Gyanendra Malla batted well opening the innings, contributed 39 runs from 63 balls. The middle order provided some decent support with many as four players getting into the mid 20’s.
Skipper Khadka looked solid and aggressive in his 28-ball 30, while star with the ball Pun made a handy 61-ball 26. The much debated Raju Rijal added just 24 runs from 35 balls. It was some good hitting at very end of the innings by Kami and Regmi, who got Nepal past 200 run mark. For MCC XI, Dutch and Barrett shined with the ball, getting 2-wickets apiece. Clark, Reingold and Perren picked one wicket each.
Brief Scores:
Nepal 217 for 8 in 50 overs (Gyanendra Malla 39 , Paras Khadka 30 ; Barrett 2 for 35 ) beat MCC XI 176 in 47.2 overs (Adair 100, Wilkinson 20; Sagar Pun 3 for 35) by 41-runs.
