Kathmandu, February 8
Nepal grabbed a seven-run win from the jaws of defeat in a thriller against Canada at the TU Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Heroics from captain Rohit Paudel with the ball helped Nepal grab an unlikely victory over Canada. Paudel picked up 4 four wickets giving away only 22 runs to win the game for Nepal.
Batting first, Nepal were bowled out for 224 runs in their allotted 50 overs. Despite opener Kushal Bhurtel giving the hosts a good start, Nepal did not get going as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Apart from Bhurtel who scored 62 of 58 balls, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla and Aarif Sheikh all got starts but were unable to carry on. It took a last burst from Sompal Kami, who scored 27 of 23 balls to take Nepal past 200.
In reply, Canada, despite losing openers Aaron Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal early, Pargat Singh and Nicholas Kirton took the innings forward. The two put up a 79-run stand as Canada were cruising. As Singh got out to Rohit Paudel, the game still looked like it was going Canada’s way thanks to 60-run stand betting Kirton and Harsh Thaker. But as Thaker was bowled by Kushal Malla and Kirton by Pawan Saraff the game was evenly poised.
That is when Paudel the ball in the hand alongside left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbhanshi and turned the game on its head giving Nepal an unprecedented win.
Debutant Rijan Dhakal also picked up a wicket in the win.
Nepal is playing a three-match ODI series with Canada as a warm-up before they take on Namibia and the Netherlands as part of the ICC Cricket League 2.
The second match between Nepal and Canada is scheduled for February 10.
