Kathmandu, Sept 4: Nepal has posted a total of 230 runs in 48.2 overs playing its only second international ODI match and first against India under Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka today. Nepal were all out with 10 balls to spare.
Put into bat first after losing the toss, Nepal started well scoring briskly to post 65 runs for the first wicket, before Kushal Burtel was out in the second last ball of the 10th over. However, Bhim Sarki, captain Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla went out cheaply, with none of them reaching double digits.
Aasif Sheikh scored 58 runs in 97 balls being before out caught to Mohammad Siraj. Gulshan Jha scored 23 runs in 35 balls.
Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami steadied the innings down the order, putting up 50 runs in 55 balls for the 7th wicket. Sompal missed on a deserved half century, out caught behind to Mohammad Sami, scoring 48 runs in 56 balls, including 2 sixes. Airee contributed 29 runs in 25 balls.
For India, Rabindra Jadeja took 3 wickets while Mohammad Siraj took 2 wickets and Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Sami and Hardik Pandya took 1 wicket each.
This is the second match that Nepal is playing in the Asia Cup 2023. In the first match held in Multan, Pakistan, Nepal lost to the hosts by 238 runs.
This is the first ever international match between neighbours Nepal and India, and only second international match that Nepal is playing in its ODI history.
Aasif Sheikh says, “I got the start in the early overs and was looking to maximise it. I was looking to bat till the 40th over but unfortunately that didn’t happen. 230 is a good score and we should be able to defend it. It’s the biggest stage for us, and we’re showing ourselves in a good manner. The ball is doing something from the 6m length, and we’re going to look to bowl there. Nepali fans are all over this ground, and we’re thankful to them. Everywhere we go we get good support.”
