Cricket Nepal (Archive)

Imam ul Haq of Pakistan scored unbeaten 105 as Pakistan U23 beat Nepal by 6 wickets in the first match of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup 2017 at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground, Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh on March 27.

22-year-old Haq, whose uncle Inzamam ul Haq was one of the greatest batsmen for Pakistan, carried the bat throughout the innings as Pakistan U23 chased Nepal’s 180/9 with 29 balls remaining.

Photo Courtesy: Bangladesh Cricket Board

Nepal’s bowlers struggled with bowling as the Pakistani openers, Imran Butt (20) and Haq racked up 67 runs in 17 overs. Haris Sohail (17), Mohammad Rizwan (10) and Hussail Talat (0) were other batsmen out as Haq ensured that he kept an end intact and runs flowing. Hammad Azam remained unbeaten on 22.

Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane and captain Gyanendra Malla, who rarely bowls, shared four wickets.

After Pakistan U23 invited Nepal to bat first, Nepal struggled with batting as well. Opener Gyanendra scored 2 in 24 balls before leaving ht field while valiant effort from Sunil Dhamala, who top scored with 43 runs off 126 balls, and Sharad Vesawkar, who got 38 runs off 58 balls, took Nepal to a respectable total. Binod Bhandari (24), Arif Sheikh (18) and Dipendra Singh Airee (14) chipped in a few runs but that was never going to the enough for Pakistan U23.

Player of the match Ghulam Mudassar claimed 5 wickets for 26 runs while Usama Mir took a couple.

Nepal will play hosts Bangladesh U23 on March 28.

Brief Scores: Nepal 180/9 in 50 overs (Sunil Dhamala 43, Sharad Vesawkar 38, Binod Bhandari 24, Ghulam Mudassar 5/26, Usama Mir 2/38) lost to Pakistan U23 183/4 in 45.1 overs (Imam ul Haq 105*, Hammad Azam 22*, Imrat Butt 20, Sandeep Lamichhanel 2/32, Gyanendra Malla 2/44) by 6 wickets.

Nepal displayed a brilliant all-round performance to outplay Kenya and register a 7-wicket victory in the World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) match at the TU Cricket Ground.

Kenya was bowled out for 155 in 46.1 overs; and Nepal registered a victory with 118 balls remaining chasing down the target in 30.2 overs. After two matches, the honors were even as Kenya had earlier registered a 5-wicket victory in a rain-affected match on March 11 at the same ground.

The result of the two matches didn’t affect the WCLC point table as Kenya (10 points from 10 matches) and Nepal (8 points from 10 matches) remain on 5th and 6th places. The top four teams will play the Cricket World Cup qualifiers.

Stand-in captain Gyanendra Malla and teenage sensation Dipendra Singh Airee played a brilliant partnership to take Nepal to victory. Dipendra, only playing his second senior international match, scored 62 off 66 balls with 8 fours and a six. He showed maturity, skills and attitude of playing high-level cricket ensuring the ticking of the scoreboard and hitting occasional boundaries. He was particularly harsh on short balls from spinners pulling them to boundaries.

His lone six completed Nepal’s 100 runs before he lost his wicket to Collins Obuya. Sharad Vesawkar then joined Gyanendra, who had played a patient knock reaching his half-century and having an intention of finishing the match from the center. Sharad took a few balls to get used to before began hitting hard.

Gyanendra hit his lone six as Nepal reached 150/3 in 30 overs. Sharad then took the charge hitting a four and a six to finish the match in style. His brisk innings lasted 11 balls but produced 24 runs with 4 fours and a six. Gyanendra remained unbeaten on 64 off 93 balls with 8 fours and a six.

Sharad Vesawkar. Photo ICC

Earlier, Kenya’s inning was a tale of two extraordinary bowling performances and a patient batting partnership.

Invited to bat first, Kenya began well hitting 10 runs off the first over bowled by Sompal Kami, but soon found themselves on the backfoot as Mehboob Alam, who returned to international cricket on Saturday’s match after more than a year, bowled exceptional. On his second over, Mehboob grabbed two wickets to reduce Kenya to 14/2 and went on to bowl five consecutive maiden overs.

Mehboob was known as crowd’s favorite at the TU Cricket Ground and he showed he is still the same bowling 6-5-2-2 before went on to give 9 runs in his 7th over. His exploits meant that Kenya was 40/2 after 16th over.

Then it was Collins Obuya and opener Irfan Karim, who played a patient partnership of 79 runs for third wicket taking Kenya to 93/2 in 27 overs. The partnership was the highlight of the Kenyan batting as they built a good foundation after early loss where others could have stood firm and delivered.

But Nepali spinners made it a dream for them. Once Obuya was stumped, thanks to some smart work by Binod Bhandari, off leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane for 48 off 78 balls, and Karim lost his cool to hit out Sharad, the Kenyan batting collapsed. Karim scored 38 off 77 balls.

Sharad, who rarely bowls, went on to bowl 7.1 overs taking 4/28 – his career-best figure (even it’s first time he had taken wicket and he had only bowled two overs before this in 20 List A matches). He was once on the hattrick bowling out Karan Kaul (14) and Shem Ngoche. Basant Regmi, who had earlier got a key wicket of captain Rakip Patel (21), got 10th man Odhiambo before Sharad bowled last man Otieno on the first ball of 47th over.

Brief scores: Kenya 155 all out in 46.1 overs (Obuya 48, Karim 38, Patel 21, Sharad 4/28, Mehboob 2/11, Basant 2/24) lost to Nepal 160 for 3 in 30.2 overs (Gyanendra 64*, Dipendra 62, Sharad 24*, Otieno 2/29) by 7 wickets.

The result of the match was simple: Kenya beat Nepal by 5 wickets in D/L method. Despite the heart-breaking loss that virtually ended Nepal’s hopes of reaching the qualifying round for the Cricket World Cup, the match was memorable for the passion of 10,000+ spectators who braved rain and wet natural sitting for hours to ensure Nepal play with their cheers.

Kenya’s bowling unit, led by Shem Ngoche’s three-wicket haul, set up win for Kenya in a rain-hit ICC World Cricket League Championship match on Saturday. Overnight and early morning rain in TU Cricket Ground the start of play before the 50-over match was reduced to a 38-overs-a-side affair. Put in to bat, Nepal didn’t get the best of starts, losing five wickets with just 66 runs on the board. It was only some late hitting from Shakti Gauchan and Sompal Kami, who added 30 runs for the ninth wicket, that lifted the side to 112 for 8 before rain arrived again in the 36th over.

Stand-in captain Gyanendra Malla (27 in 35 balls), debutant Dipendra Singh Airee (19 in 36 balls), Shakti (18 not out in 24), Somapl (15 not out in 17) and Sagar Pun (10 in 23) were the only Nepal batsmen to reach double-figures. Ngoche, the left-arm spinner, returned 3 for 18 in his six overs, and was well supported by Nelson Odhiambo, who took 2 for 17 in six overs.

Paras Khadka missed the match as he is recuperation from an abdomen surgery conducted in mid-February after being diagnosed with appendicitis.

Kenya was set a revised target of 109 in 29 overs and Sagar Pun and Basant Regmi, the Nepal spinners, dismissed Kenya’s top three by the seventh over, with Pun striking off successive deliveries to dismiss Irfan Karim and Dhiren Gondaria. But Collins Obuya (24 in 32) and Rakep Patel (34 not out in 52) kept the chase going with a crucial 44-run fourth-wicket stand.

Kenya had reached 80 for 5 in 22.3 overs before rain interrupted again, and Kenya was set 94 to win from 26 overs upon resumption. Patel, the captain, and Gurdeep Singh then took Kenya over the line to 98 for 5 in 24.1 overs.

Captain Gyanendra commented: “If it had been a 50-over game, probably the complexion of the game would have been different. We need to step up our batting in the next game.”

Kenya coach Thomas Odoyo said: “In the morning, our boys bowled in the right areas and kept taking wickets. In the evening, it was difficult to bat on but our players are professionals and dealt it with calmness.”

This was Kenya’s fifth win (10 points) in nine matches in the tournament so far. It is now placed fifth in the eight-team table, while Nepal, with three wins (6 points) from nine games, is placed a rung below. Netherlands heads the list with 16 points from ten games, while Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Scotland placed above Kenya, and Namibia and USA propping up the table.

Brief score: Nepal 112/8 in 36 overs (G Malla 27, D Airee 19; S Ngoche 3-18, N Odhiambo 2-17) lost to Kenya 98-5 in 24.1 overs (R Patel 34*, C Obuya 24; S Pun 2-8, S Lamichhane 2-21) by five wickets under D/L method

Nepal and Kenya are hoping to put their experience during recent tours of India to best use as they look to garner maximum points in the upcoming ICC World Cricket League matches in TU Cricket Stadium, Kathmandu on 11 and 13 March.

Nepal recently played three matches in New Delhi while Kenya played four matches in the western Indian city of Vadodara in preparation for their WCL fixtures, hoping to remain in contention for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.

The top four sides from among the eight sides will make it to the Qualifier, which will also feature the four bottom sides from the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings as on 30 September 2017 and two top sides from the WCL Division 2.

The Netherlands is presently at the top of the points table with 16 points from 10 matches while Papua New Guinea is in second position with 12 points from eight matches. Hong Kong and Scotland are both on 11 points from 10 and eight matches, respectively.

Nepal captain Paras Khadka says his team is out to get maximum points in its remaining six matches of the championship, which gives each team 14 matches to play.

“We toured New Delhi for three practice matches and have also been training at home. We understand that all matches will be very important for us now since we only have three rounds remaining and every point will be crucial in relation to the final standings. We can’t lose points if we want to make it to the top four,” Khadka said.

“Kenya is a good team with an experienced bunch of cricketers, but we have always played well as a unit and with great team spirit. Our spinners are our most important asset,” he added about his slow bowling attack, which includes 16-year-old leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who was invited last year by former Australia captain Michael Clarke to represent his Sydney-based club Western Suburbs.

“We would definitely have liked to be higher in the points table but all is not lost and this makes the upcoming two games very essential to finish in the top-four,” says Rakep Patel, the Kenya captain. “We would definitely have liked to be higher in the points table but all is not lost and this makes the upcoming two games very essential to finish in the top-four,” says Rakep Patel, the Kenya captain.

Nepal currently has six points from eight matches which includes a 2-0 victory over Namibia and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. Nepal lost all its matches against PNG and Scotland while it will play Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates after the matches against Kenya.

Kenya is slightly better off with eight points from four matches. It defeated Namibia 2-0, drew 1-1 with both Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates while losing both its matches to Papua New Guinea. After Nepal, Kenya is due to play Scotland and table-leader Netherlands.

Kenya captain Rakep Patel says his team has prepared well for the conditions expected at the Tribhuvan University ground.

“We have tried our best to replicate the conditions we would face there in Nepal by having four games against various sides in Baroda. Acclimatizing to the conditions is essential and nothing beats match practice as the conditions will be very similar in Nepal.

“We would definitely have liked to be higher in the points table but all is not lost and this makes the upcoming two games very essential to finish in the top-four, which is our desired goal. The main objective, however clichéd, is to win. Not only will it help us climb the points table but will give the young side much needed confidence for the future. There’s a lot riding on these games for us.”

Patel picked all-rounders Collins Obuya and Nehemiah Odhiambo and batsmen Irfan Karim and Alex Obanda as the players to watch in his team. He named rookie leg-spinner Pushpak Kerai as a surprise commodity and as a back-up for left-arm spinner Shem Nogech, since he expects spinner-friendly pitches for the two matches.

The squads:
Nepal: Paras Khadka (captain), Dipendra Airee, Mahaboob Alam, Binod Bhandari, Sunil Dhamala, Shakti Gauchan, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Gyanendra Malla, Sagar Pun, Basant Regini, Aarif Sheikh, Sharad Vesawkar,

Kenya: Rakep Patel (captain), Dhiren Gondaria, Irfan Karim, Karan Kaul, Pushpak Kerai, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Nelson Odhiambo, Lucas Oluoch, Elijah Otieno, Rushabhvardhan Patel, Gurdeep Singh.

Match officials
Umpires: Sarika Prasad and Vinay Jha; Third umpire: Durga Nath Subedi
Match referee: Dev Govindjee

Netherlands strengthened its position at the top of the ICC World Cricket Championship League with a seven-wicket win against Nepal at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen on Saturday (August 13).

Tim van der Gugten and Michael Rippon returned identical figures of 3 for 21 as Nepal, put into bat, was bowled out for 94 in 38.1 overs – Nepal’s lowest total. Netherlands chased down the target in 16.5 overs. The defeat is third in Europe for Nepal who had lost both matches against Scotland.

Nepal’s lowest score was 167/10 against Scotland in their first round match that Nepal lost by nine wickets last year in July.

Overall, Nepal lost five matches out of seven in the championship as they also had lost both matches against PNG in the second round before beating Namibia at the TU Stadium in Kirtipur in April in the third round.

In today’s match, Nepali batsmen failed to put good show against discipline bowling of the opposition who invited the visitor to put runs on the board first.

Opener Anil Mandal top scored 20 runs facing 39 balls, while Sharad Vesawkar, who faced 71 balls, was second highest scorer for Nepal with 14 runs. Tail-ender Sompal Kami (12 off 28) and opener Gyanendra Malla (11 off 12) were other batsmen to contribute in double digits.

Skipper Paras Khadka got duck out by Timm van der Merwe who picked up three wickets giving away only 21 runs in eight overs. He also maintained a maiden over.

Similarly, Michael Rippon also claimed three wickets as Nepal flopped in batting. Rippon , who maintained two maiden, conceded 21 runs in 9.1 overs .

Netherlands lost Rippon early in the chase, but a 57-run stand between Stephan Myburgh and Wesley Barresi put the team in a commanding position. Barresi fell for 37, and was followed by Ben Cooper, but Myburgh’s unbeaten 33 took Netherlands home with 199 balls to spare.

Netherlands now has 12 points from seven matches, while Nepal is placed sixth on the table with four points, also from seven matches.

The two teams will play against each other at the same venue again on Monday.