All knew Binod Bhandari is a big hitter – the flashes of his capacity was scattered in his knocks – but for the first time, he proved his worth as a middle-order big-hitting batsman with a brilliant half-century loaded with sixes to beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 7 wickets.
Nepal beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by seven wickets in the 30th match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on November 19.
What was amazing about Binod’s inning was that he emerged to limelight right from the shadow of Paras Khadka, Nepal’s most match winner. Paras, who was on the pitch before Binod made an entry was happy to give Binod strike as he went on smashing sixes in his 23-ball 51. He completed the half-century and closed the match with a six.
Paras Khadka remained unbeaten on 26 off 19 balls while the foundation was made by Subash Khakurel, who hit 38 as opener. Charles Amini and Chris Amini took one wicket each for PNG.
Binod Bhandari (L) with Paras Khadka (R) during their unbeaten 71 run stand, which took Nepal home against PNG on 19 Nov, 2013
PNG, winning the toss and batting first, posted 140 runs on the board aided by Geraint Jones’s 53-ball 55, which included four sixes.
Mahuru Dai scored an unbeaten 36 at No. 7 as the other batsmen failed to make any significant contribution to the total. Paras Khadka, the right-arm medium pacer for Nepal, bagged three wickets for 22 runs in his four overs.
Nepal will play Netherlands on November 20.