The Nepalese national team has bagged a bilateral series win against Canada with a match to spare. They completed a record chase at TU Cricket Ground to go 2-0 up in the series.
Following a target of 286 runs, Nepal completed a chase in 45.1 overs losing six wickets. This is Nepal’s joint-highest ODI chase. Previously, they completed a 286-run chase against Namibia in February 2023.
Anil Sah yielded an electrifying start for the home side. He was dismissed right after creating the record for the fastest fifty for Nepal in ODI (19 balls). He hammered 20-ball 50 with seven fours and three sixes to put Nepal in a comfortable position.
Rohit Paudel and Dev Khanal then added 150 runs for the third wicket, which is Nepal’s second-highest partnership for any wicket. Dev departed for 76 runs from 81 balls, his new highest individual ODI score. Bhim Sharki played a handy cameo of 21-ball 23 before Rohit Paudel also left the crease in the next over. Rohit scored 87 runs from 101 balls with eight fours and four sixes.
Pawan Sarraf then came and quick knock of eight-ball 14 before Kushal Malla wrapped things up with a six. Eventually, Nepal won the match by four wickets with 29 balls spare.
For Canada, Ishwarjot Sohi and Harsh Thaker took two wickets each. Saad Bin Zafar and Dilpreet Bajwa also took one wicket each.
Earlier in the first innings, Canada posted a decent total. They ended an allotted 50 overs at 285/9 after opting to bat first at TU Cricket Ground.
The openers yielded a brilliant start for Canada, adding 94 runs. Aakash Chand took a debut wicket and removed Navneet Dhaliwal for 46 runs. The other opener, Aaron Johnson was sent back following a brilliant fielding display from Bhim Sharki. He scored 62-ball 65 with ten fours and two sixes.
Pargat Singh (38) and Nicholas Kirtan (20) then added 53 runs for the third wicket. Canada were in a comfortable position of 179/2 but skipper Rohit Paudel dismissed both Pargat and Nicholas to bring Nepal on the track. Nepalese bowlers then kept taking wickets in a regular intervals. In no time, they were down to 239/8 after 45 overs.
The duo of Shreyas Movva and Uday Bhagwan added a vital 46 runs for the ninth wicket before losing the wicket in the very last ball of the inning. Movva made 40 runs whilst Bhagwan hammered 15-ball 20.
For Nepal, Skipper Rohit Paudel (8-0-32-2) and Kushal Malla (10-0-51-2) picked up two wickets each. Aakash Chand, Sompal Kami and Pawan Sarraf grabbed one wicket each. Surya Tamang also claimed the maiden ODI wicket and ended with a figure of (10-1-46-1).
