Nepal failed to defend a formidable total against Kuwait on Saturday in the ACC Trophy Elite and slumped to four wickets defeat for the first time against Kuwait in 50-over format.
Electing to bat first, Nepal made 280/4 with first international century from skipper Paras Khadka at the Al Dhaib Cricket Village in the UAE. However, Kuwait surpassed the target with 22 ball to spare making 286/6.
The defeat also put a brake on Nepal’s highest winning streak of nine One-Day matches in international cricket. In the absence of its fast bowlers, Binod Das and Amrit Bhattarai, Nepal known for its tight bowling failed to come up with good bowling performance.
Skipper Paras Khadka and Shakti Gauchan claimed two wickets apiece while Pradeep Aire got one scalp. In Kuwait’s run chase, Irfan Bhatti (47) and Abid Mushtaq (54) put up 92 runs partnership for the first wicket in 10.1 over before Bhatti was run out.
“Kuwait scored more than 90 runs in the first 10 overs that turned to be the setback for us,”Nepal’s coach Pubudu Dassanayake told cricket.com.np during a telephonic conversation. “We did not have a single fast bowler today as Binod Das and Amrit Bhattarai were not included in the starting list due to injury.” Das and Bhattarai both have has picked up knee injury.
Fifth order batsman Sibtain Raza was the highest scorer for Kuwait who scored 77 off 84. Kashif Sharif scored 59 and Hisham Mirza was unbeaten for 26 runs.
Earlier, Nepal’s opening pair of Subash Khakurel (45) and Anil Mandal (19) put up 61 runs partnership for the first wicket in 18.6 overs after Mandal was caught. Nepal lost Khakurel with 45 runs off 86 in the 25.5 overs.
Third order batsman Gyanemdra Malla scored 53 off 59 and fourth order Paras Khadka scored unbeaten 106 off 77 to take Nepal to the huge total.
The duo played a partnership of 97 runs for the third wickets. Khadka’s innings included four sixes and seven boundaries. Prithu Baskota was unbeaten for 37 runs and Pradeep Aire scored 11 runs.
Saad Khalid, Kashif Sharif, Sibtain Raza and Hisham Mirza claimed one wicket apiece of Nepal.
“We fell 20-run short as we were a little slow in the beginning,” said Nepal’s coach Dassanayake, who was full of praise for his skipper Paras Khadka. “Khadka came up with good batting.”
Dassnayake also said that his side still has a chance to make it to the next round. “Hong Kong, Kuwait and the UAE have all lost one match each and if we win our next two matches we will advance.”
Earlier, Nepal had defeated the host UAE by four wickets in its first match.