Kathmandu, June 20
Nepal beat the USA by six wickets in their second game of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on June 20.
Winning the toss, Nepal put the USA to bat and immediately reaped the rewards as Karan KC sent back Steven Taylor and Saiteja Mukkamalla in the second over of the game. The US batters struggled against KC’s precise line and length leaving them visibly uncomfortable throughout the opening hour of the match.
KC’s discipline proved too good as, the US’s stand-in captain, Aaron Jones and Nosthush Kenjige soon fell victim reducing the US to 18 for the loss of four wickets.
Gajanand Singh, centurion for the US against the West Indies, tried to take the game to the Nepali bowlers along with Sushant Modani but their 47-run stand was broken by Dipendra Singh Airee.
Shayan Jahangir played some positive strokes to settle the innings for the US. He took on all Nepali bowlers including Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulshan Jha and Aarif Sheikh as he scored an impressive 79-ball century. But with wickets falling at the other end regularly, Jahangir was left frustrated as the US were bowled out for 207 in 49 overs.
Karan KC was the pick of the bowlers as he took four wickets for 33 runs. Airee and Lalit Rajbanshi were also impressive as they held off an end. Airee took two wickets in five overs giving away only 15 runs while Rajbanshi took one wicket in 10 overs giving away only 20 runs. Jha finished the US’s tail as he took three wickets.
In reply, Nepali openers started where they left off in the first game against Zimbabwe as they attacked the US bowlers. But their attacking gameplay did not pay dividends and Saurabh Netravalkar trapped Aasif Sheikh and Nosthush Kenjige caught Kushal Bhurtel for 12 and 39 respectively.
But a mature innings from Bhim Sarki (77) and a late burst from Airee (39) took Nepal home giving the rhinos the first win of the ICC World Cup Qualifier.
Kenjige and Jessy Singh did trouble the Nepali batters but did not get the rewards thanks to some poor fielding from the team.
Nepal will play the West Indies on June 22.
