Nepalese national cricket team registered their consecutive win in the SMS Friendship Cup T20 Tri-Series in India. Nepal registered a comfortable 27-run victory against Baroda Cricket Association on Tuesday.
Invited to bat first at Sai Meghpan Sportsslife Cricket Ground, Nepal posted 156 for 6 after the end of the allotted 20 over. Nepal had a shaky start as they were 43/3 in the eighth over, losing Kushal Bhurtel (9), Aasif Sheikh (9) and Rohit Paudel (18). The situation got worse when Anil Sah (25) and Gulshan Jha (13) walked back and they were 82/5 in the 13th over.
Sundeep Jora and Kushal Malla rescued the visiting team with 48-run partnership. Jora departed after scoring 16-ball 29 while Malla stayed till the end and scored an unbeaten 25-ball 40 to help the team post a fighting score.
Baroda were restricted to 129 runs, losing the match by 27 runs. They had a fumbling start as Karan KC took two wickets in the very first over. Soon, the chasing team were in pitiful situation of 29/5 in the powerplay. Bhanu Pania top-scored with 27-ball 38 whereas skipper Vishnu Solanki made a sluggish 25 run. Eventually, no.10 batter Baba Khan hammered 18-ball 27 as the team reached to the respectable score before being bowled out in the 20 over.
For Nepal, Karan KC was the pick of a bowler grabbing three wickets (4-0-24-3). Sompal Kami (4-1-20-2) and Avinash Bohara (4-0-22-2) took two scalps whilst Gulshan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee pocketed one wicket each.
Karan KC was adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliant spell.
Nepal will play next match against Gujarat on April 3 (tomorrow).
