The Nepalese Men’s Cricket Team secured a convincing 37-run victory over Oman in the second match of the T20I series, bouncing back to winning form. Following a disappointing CWC League 2 campaign and a loss to Canada in the series opener, Nepal finally found success with this crucial win.
Invited to bat first at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City, the Nepalese team piled up a decent total of 176 runs at the end of the allotted 20 overs. The opening partnership between Anil Sah and Aasif Sheikh contributed 39 runs before Anil departed after scoring 27. Sheikh also scored an identical 27 before being dismissed. Dev Khanal and Rohit Paudel were out cheaply, while Kushal Malla added 30 runs from 27 balls, leaving Nepal at 98/5 after 15 overs.
Nepal added an impressive 78 runs in the final five overs, powered by Gulshan Jha’s explosive innings. Jha smashed three sixes and three fours, finishing unbeaten on 40 from just 17 balls. He received solid support from Kushal Bhurtel, who contributed 20 runs. In the last over, Dipendra Singh Airee made a quick-fire 18 off just five balls to further boost Nepal’s total to 176/6.
In response, Nepal wrapped Oman for 139 in 19.1 overs. Nepal got a dream start with Karan KC dismissing Kashyap Prajapati in the first ball of the inning. Aqib Ilyas, Ayaan Khan and Zeeshan Maqsood too were sent back without doing any damage as Oman were 29/4 in the eighth over. They never recovered from that damage and failed to give a decent fight.
Shoaib Khan top-scored with 45 runs whereas Rafiullah hammered 12-ball 33. Fayyaz Butt also notched an unbeaten 17 runs from six balls.
For Nepal, Gulshan Jha and Kushal Bhurtel picked up two wickets each while Karan KC was a pick of a bowler with three wickets. Sandeep Lamichhane, DS Airee and Rijan Dhakal grabbed one wicket each.
After one day of rest, Nepal will face Canada in the third match on October 1.
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