Records, records and records!
Its what Nepal saw breaking when it played the newest cricket nation Bhutan in Emerging Nations’ Cup in Tribhuvan University ground on Saturday.
Skipper Raju Khadka made the first ever century for Nepal to help his team post the highest ever international total of 397. Khadka 50-ball century was scored in a blink as he hit 14 fours and 4 sixes, both of which is highest by any Nepali batsman in an innings.
Bhutan were bundled out in 44 runs of 32 overs. Bhutan’s score is the lowest against Nepal in its 23 international matches and the win by 353 runs is the biggest ever victory for Nepal.
And, the records breaking performance does not stop there. Raju Basnet became the first debutant to claim 5-wicket haul. Basnet, who is representing Nepal’s senior team for the first time took five wickets for 7 runs in his 5 overs.
The 107-run partnership between Khadka and his deputy Binod Das for seventh wicket is the first century partnership for Nepal. The fourth wicket 88-run partnership between Shakti Gauchan and Sandeep Shrestha is the second best for Nepal.
“In the beginning, I played cautiously but things looked easy when the innings progressed,” said Khadka after his unbeaten century. “I didn’t even think that I can score a century in that short period.”
Nepal will play the final of the tournament against Maldives on Monday.