Prithu Banskota’s unbeaten 36 runs off 36 balls went in vain as rest of the other Nepali batsmen faltered against Papua New Guinea (PNG). Nepal suffered a 35-run defeat in their third match in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in the UAE on Thursday.
Nepal had defeated Hong Kong on Tuesday and Denmark on Wednesday.
PNG, which lost its first two matches against Afghanistan and Canada, put up 137/8 and restricted Nepal at 102/8 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to notch their first victory in the tournament.
Nepal's Prithu Baskota plays a shot against PNG at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012. Photo: ICC
Nepal won the toss and elected to field first. Chandra Saud provided breakthrough as early as the fourth ball of the innings claiming the wicket of Tony Ura. When Captain Paras Khadka took the wicket of Asad Vala, PNG were reeling at 16/2 in 3.5 overs. Geraint Jones (32 runs) Mahura Dai (12) runs put up a 30-run third wicket partnership. Chris Amini anchored the PNG innings remaining unbeaten with invaluable 38 runs. Jack Vare chipped in adding 19 runs. Nepali bowlers gave away 15 runs as extras.
Shakti Gauchan, who had taken hat-trick against Denmark, and Basanta Regmi took two wickets each. Chandra Saud, Paras Khadka and Mehboob Alam dismissed one PNG batsman each.
In reply, Nepali batsmen failed to build partnership. Paresh Lohani returned to the pavilion scoring just three runs. Though Pradeep Airee and Sharad Vesawkar got the start, they could not translate it into big ones. Airee scored 13 runs while Vesawkar added just 14 runs.
Paras Khadka scored six runs while Gyanendra Malla added only eight runs.
Prithu Baskota showed some guts and remained unbeaten scoring 36 runs including a boundary and a six but the wicket kept on falling at the other end.
Amini was pick among the PNG bowlers as he claimed two wickets. He was named man-of-the-match.