KATHMANDU, MAY 9
Nepal defeated Zimbabwe ‘A’ by six wickets to win the One Day Series 2-1 here at the TU Stadium today.
Kishore Mahato completed five-wicket haul, while Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee scored half centuries to guide Nepal to victory in the third and final match of the series.
Nepal had faced a three-wicket defeat in the first match on Saturday before winning the second by nine wickets on Sunday. The two teams shared the three-match T20 Series 1-1 after the second game was washed out.
Batting first in the match which was reduced to 33-overa-side due to rain, Zimbabwe ‘A’ were bowled out for 213 runs in 32.1 overs, while the home side reached 214-4 with 17 balls to spare. Openers Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh set the tone for Nepal putting up 73 runs in 12 overs, while Bhurtel and Sunil Dhamala (six) added 39 runs for the second wicket. Sheikh scored 37-ball 29 hitting two fours and a six.
Nepal were reduced to 130- 4 after Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel (naught) were dismissed in successive balls but Airee and Binod Bhandari took the team home without further loss and they added 84 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket. Bhurteltop scored with 61-ball 84 that included seven boundaries and four sixes, while Airee remained unbeaten on 60 off just 43 balls and he hit four fours and three sixes. Bhandari struck three boundaries in his 28 not out off 26 balls. Brandon Mavuta took 3-46 for Zimbabwe ‘A’, while Brad Evans grabbed one wicket.
Earlier, Tadiwanashe Marumani top scored for Zimbabwe ‘A’ with a quick fire 50 off 31 balls that included seven fours and two sixes, while Kudzai Maunze struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 34-ball 39. The tourists were on course for big course but Nepal restricted them taking the last five wickets for 39 runs. Roy Kaia scored 36 off 48 balls hitting three fours and a six, while skipper Tony Munyonga (24), Luke Jongwe (19), Cephas Zhuwao (16) and Innocent Kaia (12). Kishore Mahato, who made his List A debut from the match along with Basir Ahmad, was the pick of the Nepali bowlers taking 5-43 from seven overs that also earned him the player-ofthe-match award.
Sompal Kami grabbed 2-45, while Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee pocketed one wicket each. KC was adjudged the player of the series.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.