The Nepalese national cricket team started the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 with an impressive performance. Nepal posted a decent total of 290 in the tournament opener against the host Zimbabwe which is Nepal’s third-highest total in ODI.
Invited to bat first at Harare Sports Club, Nepalese openers yielded an electrifying start. Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel added 171 runs for the first wicket, which is the highest partnership for any wicket in Nepal’s ODI history.
Kushal Bhurtel missed his second ODI century as he was knocked out by Masakadza for 99 in the 32nd over. He smacked 13 fours and two sixes in a 95-ball knock. Aasif Sheikh followed him after a couple of overs, scoring 66 runs from 100 balls with seven boundaries.
Kushal Malla and skipper Rohit Paudel then shared 72 runs for the third wicket before Ngarava sent back Paudel for 29-ball 31. Malla too didn’t last long, as he was dismissed for 41 Chatara. Malla smacked two fours and three sixes from 42 balls.
No Nepalese batters could do any special as they ended 50 overs at 290/8. Nepal managed only 32 runs from the last five overs, losing five wickets in the process.
For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava was the pick of a bowler. He picked up four wickets and recorded his best performance in ODI (9-1-43-4). Wellington Masakadza picked up two, while Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani grabbed one each.
