Half centuries from Subash Khakurel and Sharad Vesawkar has guided Nepal to 232/8 in their 50 overs against Papua New Guinea in the 15th match of ICC World Cricket League Championship held in Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Nepal opted to bat first after winning the toss. Norman Vanua trapped the in-form opener Anil Mandal in the first ball of the match. The team management sent Sagar Pun instead of Gyanendra Malla at No.3 but he failed cheaply for 10(23) in the 8th over. Gyanendra Malla tried to hang around with the other opener Subash Khakurel but he lost his wicket while flicking the middle stump ball and was trapped infront for 23(26).
Likewise, Skipper Paras Khadka became the victim of Dai for 6(16). Opener Khakurel was the next batsman to be dismissed by Dai after a well made half century. His inning of 63 runs off 104 balls with two boundaries helped Nepal to reach 142/5 in 34.5 overs. Sompal Kami was next to go, stumped for 8(15). At 40th over, Nepal lost its sixth wicket for 168.
10 overs to go and Nepal was under pressure to score runs. But Sharad Vesawkar and Basant Regmi added 52 runs for 8th wicket to guide Nepal to 232 runs in 50 overs. Sharad Vesawkar scored 78(82) with 5 boundaries while Basant Regmi was unbeaten on 24(23).
Assad Vala was the pick of the bowler as he grabbed three wickets in his 7 overs (A Vala 7-0-32-3). Mahuru Dai took two wickets while JB Reva, CA Soper and N Vanua shared wicket a piece.
