Having played the first T20I match in March 2014 and the first ODI in August 2018, Nepal has played an equal number of ODIs and T20Is (57) so far (As of July 2023).
Team Nepal has played against ten different opponents in ODI. Similarly, they have faced 19 different teams in T20I. Scoring big and building a partnership has always been Nepal’s fragility, whether it be ODI or T20I.
A total of eleven and four 100 runs partnership has been recorded in ODI and T20I, respectively. Here, we will be examining the highest partnership achieved by Nepali batters for all ten wickets in both ODI and T20I.
Highest partnership for the first to last wicket (1-10) in ODI
First Wicket – 171 runs by Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh
Nepalese openers have shared three 100+ opening stands. It is the most 100+ partnership by any Nepalese batting duo. They shared a whopping 171 runs against Zimbabwe in the recently concluded Cricket World Cup Qualifier. It is also the biggest partnership for any wicket and Nepal’s first-ever 150+ stand.
Second Wicket – 139 runs by Aasif Sheikh and Gyanendra Malla
This is the highest partnership for Nepal while chasing. After the departure of Kushal Bhurtel (1) in the third over, Aasif and Gyanendra added 139 runs to help Nepal register a three-wicket win against Namibia at TU Cricket Ground.
Third Wicket – 133 runs by Kushal Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel
The third-highest (overall) and biggest third-wicket partnership also came against Namibia at TU Cricket Ground. The partnership helped Nepal chase 287 runs, which is the biggest successful chase for Nepal. Kushal Bhurtel scored a maiden ODI ton during this match.
Fourth Wicket – 96* runs by Bhim Sharki and Gulshan Jha
Surprisingly, there has not been a single 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Nepal were 22/3 while chasing a target of 118 against UAE in the final of the ACC Premier Cup. Gulshan Jha, promoted to number three, scored 67*, and Bhim Sharki supported him well as Nepal won by seven wickets on the reserve day to seal a spot in the Asia Cup 2023.
Fifth Wicket -104 runs by Aarif Sheikh and Rohit Paudel
The partnership came in a losing cause against PNG. Nepal were 73/4 while chasing 293 and Aarif-Rohit added 104 runs or the fifth wicket. Aarif scored only 34 whilst 70 runs came from the bat of Rohit Paudel. Rohit’s 126-run knock (Highest individual score by a Nepali batter) was not enough to win the match.
Sixth Wicket – 106 runs by Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami
Nepal were chasing a target of 246 against the USA at Moosa Cricket Stadium, Pearland. Aarif Sheikh (63) and Sompal Kami (47) shared 106 runs for the sixth wicket rescuing Nepal from 93/5. However, Nepal then lost five wickets for just seven runs and fall short by 39 runs.
Seventh Wicket – 68 runs by Aarif Sheikh and Gulshan Jha
Aarif is Nepal’s backbone in the lower middle order for a reason. The partnership came against West Indies in the recently concluded CWC Qualifier. Nepal were heading towards a big loss after being six down for 129 runs. Jha scored 42 runs and added 68 runs with Aarif, who ended up scoring 63 runs. Nepal managed 238 runs and lost by 101 runs.
Eighth Wicket – 80 runs by Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulshan Jha
Sandeep Lamichhane and Dipendra Singh Airee registered the highest eighth-wicket partnership against UAE on July 2 with a match-winning 79* runs. However, Lamichhane himself and Gulshan Jha broke the record on July 4, sharing 80 runs against Ireland. Sandeep scored 32, whereas Jha smacked 42-ball 57* as Nepal posted 268 runs on the board.
Ninth Wicket – 75* runs by Karan KC and Rohit Paudel
This CWC League 2 match against Scotland will be remembered long for Rohit Paudel’s heroism. Despite being 138/8 while chasing 213 runs in a must-win match, Nepal emerged victorious by two wickets in a thrilling contest – Thanks to Rohit Paudel’s terrific 95*. Karan KC also scored a composed 31* to take Nepal home.
Last Wicket – 32 runs by Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane
Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC added 32 runs for the last wicket against UAE in a 68-run defeat. Nepal were wrapped up for 139 runs, chasing 208 runs. However, Lamichhane smacked 24-ball 26* runs coming to bat at no.11, which is still the biggest score by Nepal’s number 11 batter.
Read – Highest ODI score by Nepali batters from batting position number one to eleven
Highest partnership for the first to last wicket (1-10) in T20I
First Wicket – 116 runs by Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh
No doubt, the Bhurtel-Sheikh duo are on the top of the T20I list too. Both Kushal (64) and Aasif (54*) scored a half-century in a comfortable nine-wicket win against the Netherlands while chasing 137 runs. This was also the first time the duo opened the inning in T20I.
Second Wicket – 145* runs by Paras Khadka and Aarif Sheikh
Paras Khadka became the first T20I centurion for Nepal and the first captain to complete a ton while chasing when he smacked 106* against Singapore in September 2019. Aarif only scored 39* runs from 38 balls, Paras Khadka did the rest as Nepal bagged a nine-wicket victory, chasing 152 runs.
Third Wicket – 171 runs by Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee
Coincidently, Nepal’s ODI and T20I’s highest partnership for any wicket is 171 runs. Kushal Bhurtel became Nepal’s third T20I centurion (104*), and DS Airee smacked 83 runs as Nepal posted 218 runs against the Philippines.
Fourth Wicket – 85 runs by Paras Khadka and Sharad Vesawkar
The partnership came against Bangladesh during T20 World Cup 2014. Paras and Sharad added 85 runs after Nepal were three down for 39 balls. However, Nepal could score only 126 runs from the allotted 20 overs.
Fifth Wicket – 61 runs by Aarif Sheikh and Binod Bhandari
Binod Bhandari and Aarif Sheikh shared crucial 61 runs after being 36/4 while chasing 126 against Hong Kong. Aarif only played a supportive role with 24-ball 21 whilst Bhandari won it for Nepal, scoring 58 runs from 48 balls.
Sixth Wicket – 66 runs by Kushal Malla and Karan KC
This partnership was the real showcase of hard-hitting. Karan smacked seven sixes and scored 13-ball 45 runs, whereas Kushal Malla scored 19 with two biggies. The magnificent power hitting helped Nepal post 217 against Malaysia.
Seventh Wicket – 54* runs by Dipendra Singh Airee and Karan KC
The 54* runs partnership between Airee and KC came in the last four overs of the match against PNG. From the position of 114/6 in the 16th over, Nepal posted 168 runs on the board. Thanks to Karan KC’s 33* runs from 12 balls and Airee’s 54*.
Eighth Wicket – 33* runs by Sushan Bhari and Karan KC
These records show how important Karan KC is for Nepal down the order. KC has played numerous electrifying knocks to boost Nepal’s total at the end. This 33* also came in the last 11 balls of the inning against Maldives, in which Bhari scored one run from two balls. KC remained unbeaten for 40 runs from 16 balls.
Ninth Wicket – 43 runs by Sompal Kami and Shakti Gauchan
This partnership is probably the one to remember for ages because of Sompal’s knock. Nepal were on the verge of utter humiliation, with eight wickets down for just 25 runs in the 12th over against Hong Kong. No batters were able to score a double-digit figure until Sompal Kami came at number 10 and hammered 40 runs. Eventually, Nepal were bowled out for 72 runs.
Tenth Wicket – 14 runs by Sharad Vesawkar and Karan KC
There is no such brilliance of Karan KC in this partnership. Nepal were chasing 173 runs against the Netherlands, but Nepal were already in a pitiful situation of 55/9. Karan (2* from 10 balls) and Sharad (18) added 14 runs for the last wicket to stretch Nepal’s total to 69 runs.
