Published: Feb 11, 2018, 08:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 11, 2018, 08:43 PM (IST)
Paras Khadka had a terrific time in Nepal’s win over UAE. He scored 51 runs off 48 balls, took 2 wickets for 20 runs, and pouched a catch. Although UAE gave Nepal a scare in the chase, the latter managed to emerge victorious.
After a two-hour delay due to wet outfield, the match was reduced to 34 overs per side. Given the conditions would be suitable for bowlers, Khadka invited UAE to bat first. Sampal Kami and Karan KC gave their captain what he had asked for. They dismissed the UAE openers early: captain Rohan Mustafa could manage a mere 7 runs, while Ashfaq Ahmed went for a duck.
UAE, for that matter, could never recover. Barring Shaiman Anwar (30 off 40), no batsman could get into his elements. They managed 114 in 31 overs. Kami finished with figures of 4 for 30. Second-fiddling him was Sandeep Lamichhane who took 3 for 30.
Nepal, too, had an ordinary start. They lost their openers for 7 runs. But in came Khadka and singlehandedly put UAE out of the contest. Although they kept losing wickets, his fiery fifty kept Nepal in hunt. Aarif Sheikh (16), the second-highest run-scorer in the innings, gave the finishing touches, as Nepal chased down the target in 28.5 overs.
Brief scores:
UAE 114 in 31 overs (Shaiman Anwar 30, Adnan Mufti 18; Sompal Kami 4 for 30; Sandeep Lamichhane 3 for 30) lost to Nepal 115 for 6 in 28.5 overs (Paras Khadka 51, Aarif Sheikh 16; Mohammad Naveed 2 for 17) by 4 wickets.
