Kathmandu – Nepal lost its another warm up match by 6 wickets due to poor batting performance against UAE at Fatullah in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 2014.
Nepal lost the toss yet again and was invited to bat first. With Poor Batting display, Nepal were bowled out for mere 95 runs in their 20.0 overs. Sagar Pun (1), the opening batsman was first to depart for just 3 runs on the board. Gyanendra Malla who performed well in the last match against Ireland was next to go for 9 runs off 5 balls.
Skipper Paras Khadka then, joined Other opening Batter- Subash Khakurel and the duo shared 36 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Once Khakurel departed after making 33 balls – 28 runs, the batting collapse once again started. Binod Bhandari departed for 2 runs. Sharad Vesawkar played two balls and was bowled by Ahmed Raza for a duck. Naresh Budhayair tried to hold the inning but he felt for 6 off 10 balls leaving Khadka with a disarray.
At 16th over Nepal were 75/6 and the next ball Skipper departed for 27 off 36 balls. Nepali batters never looked comfortable against the UAE quicks and was wrapped up for 95 runs. The Right Arm fast bowler – Sharif Asadullah was pick of the bowler for UAE as he grabbed 3 wickets for 15 runs in his 4 overs.
During the chase, Not surprisingly Skipper brought himself up for the opening. That paid off in the second ball as he dismissed Amjad Ali for a duck. Sompal Kami dismissed Ahmed Raza for 7 (7 balls). UAE team were in some sorts of trouble (14/2).
Few Over later, Shakti Gauchan was introduced and he grabbed the vital wicket of UAE’s skipper – Khurram Khan. Khan contributed 15 runs from 21 balls. Swapnil Patil and Shaiman Anwar then steady the ship with a much needed partnership of 48 runs for the fourth wicket. Patil made 33 runs(41 balls, 3 fours) before Basant Regmi dismissed him in 16.3 overs.
Unbeaten knock from Shaiman Anwar (30*) along with Rohan Mustafa (10) took the match away from Nepal as Skipper Khadka got smashed for a Four and Six in 19th over to end the match. UAE won the match by 6 wickets.
Nepal already lost the service of Prithu Baskota and Avinash Karna and lost both the warm-ups played in Fatullah. They will play against Hong Kong at Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong in their first group match of the ICC World Twenty20 2014 on Sunday 16th March.
