Nepal and Kenya are playing a series decider today (30th August) at Gymkhana Club Ground. The five-match T20I series is well balanced after Nepal’s terrible batting display handed Kenya a 7-run victory on Monday.
Chasing a mere total of 102 runs, Nepal were stopped for 94 runs after allotted 20 overs, Nepal’s sixth small T20I total, and second after playing full 20 overs. Had Nepal chased the total the series would have been well under Nepal’s control.
Only Rohit Paudel piled up a double-digit score for Nepal, scoring half of the team total. Rakep Patel was sensational with the ball picking up 3 wickets. Elijah Otieno, Shem Ngoche, and Vraj Patel also pocketed a couple of wickets with a phenomenal economy.
So, it all comes to Gymkhana Club Ground after all the drama in the series so far. Nepal has slipped to 15th position in the latest T20I ranking while Kenya has maintained their 30th position.
Nepal is yet to bat first in the series. Two times Nepal choose to bowl first while two times the hosts forced them to bowl first. After a horrible display in the 4th T20I, will Nepal start with a different strategy or go with the same outdated tactics? Time will tell.
Nepal will try to clinch the series in their first-ever trip to Kenya. On the other hand, Kenya will look for a happy ending on the return of international cricket in the country after a decade.
Nepal’s score so far in the series:
- 1st T20I – 133/5 (19.3 overs)
- 2nd T20I – 114 (19 overs)
- 3rd T20I – 160/6 (19.3 overs)
- 4th T20I – 94/9 (20 overs)
Nepal’s Probable XI: Aasif Sheikh, Arjun Saud, Gyanendra Malla, Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Aadil Ansari, Sompal Kami, Karan Kc, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shahab Alam.
