The Nepalese national team has suffered a 101-run loss against West Indies in the third match of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023. Chasing a mammoth target of 340 runs, Nepal were bowled out for 238 runs in 49.3 overs at Harare Sports Club.
Nepal were never in the game as they kept on losing the wickets after the early dismissal of Kushal Bhurtel (5) in the second over. Nepal were 92 for five during the 23rd over. Aasif Sheikh and Rohit Paudel scored 28 and 30 runs, respectively, whereas Bhim Sharki (2) and Kushal Malla (2) were dismissed cheaply.
Dipendra Singh Airee walked back for 20-ball 23 before Aarif Sheikh and Gulshan Jha shared 68 runs for the seventh wicket. Jha made 42 with five fours and one six. Aarif Sheikh completed a half-century and eventually walked back for 63 (from 93 balls) after scoring four boundaries and one six.
Karan KC scored an entertaining 28 at the end for Nepal before giving a catch back to Kyle Mayers with a couple of balls to spare. A lot of Nepalese batters were troubled by the short-pitched deliveries. Meanwhile, West Indies were sloppy in the field, dropping several catches.
For West Indies, Jason Holder was the pick of a bowler dismissing three batters and conceding just 34 from his ten-over spell. Akeil Hossein, Keemo Paul and Kyle Mayers bagged two wickets each, while Alzari Joseph pocketed one.
Earlier in the first inning – Despite a fumbling start Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran scored a century each to help their side post 339/7 in 50 overs. Invited to bat first at Harare Sports Club, Windies had a frightening start after losing two quick wickets. Kyle Mayers (1) and Johnson Charles (0) were dismissed by Karan Kc and Gulshan Jha, respectively, as they were nine for two in the fifth over.
Lamichhane picked up the first wicket of the tournament in the form of Brandon King (32), with the men in Maroon three down for 55 in the 16th over. Skipper Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran then shared the match turning 216 runs partnership for the fourth wicket, with both batters scoring a ton.
Pooran capitalized on a dropped catch (on 3 and 54) and completed his second ODI ton. He scored 94-ball 115 with ten fours and four sixes before Dipendra Singh Airee dismissed him with a brilliant one-handed catch. Rovman Powell smacked 14-ball 29, whereas Jason Holder contributed an unbeaten 10-ball 16.
Meanwhile, skipper Hope was dismissed by Rajbasnhi in the final over after scoring 132 runs from 129 balls. He hammered ten fours and three sixes.
For Nepal, Lalit Rajbanshi picked up three wickets, whereas Karan KC, Gulshan Jha and Sandeep Lamichhane had one wicket each.
