KATHMANDU, MAY 1
Nepal national cricket team faced a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe ‘A’ in the opening game of the three-match Twenty20 Series here at the TU Stadium today.
Batting first, Nepal posted 181-5 in their allotted 20 overs before the visitors raced to 182-4 with seven balls to spare. The Zimbabwe ‘A’ Tour of Nepal was rescheduled after the first One Day match was washed out yesterday. The two sides will finish the T20 series and will play three OD matches.
Nepal made a mediocre start losing opener Aasif Sheikh (nine) with 27 runs on the board before another opener Kushal Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel added 57 runs for the second wicket.
Bhurtel was dismissed for 46 off 31 balls that included eight boundaries. Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee shared a 39-run partnership for the third wicket before they were dismissed in the space of eight balls.
Paudel struck two fours and a six in his 26-ball 36, while Airee scored a quick fire 28 off 13 balls hitting a four and two sixes.
Mohammad Aadil Alam then played a fiery knock to help his team post a fighting total. Alam struck four boundaries and three sixes in his 27-ball 47. Brad Evans, Luke Jongwe, Brandon Mavuta and John Masara took one wicket each for Zimbabwe ‘A’.
In reply, Tadiwanashe Marumani and skipper Tony Munyonga scored half centuries to guide Zimbabwe ‘A’ to victory. Openers Innocent Kaia and Marumani put up 73 runs before Marumani combined with his captain Munyonga to share a 72-run partnership for the second wicket.
Marumani top scored with 41-ball 56 hitting three each fours and sixes, while Munyonga struck seven sixes in his 23-ball 50. Kaia scored 30-ball 47 that included nine fours.
Basir Ahamad took 2-22 for home team, while Karan KC and skipper Sandeep Lamichhane grabbed one each. The two sides will play second match on Monday.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 02, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.