In a dominant display of cricketing skill, Nepal secured a commanding eight-wicket win against Singapore in the ICC T20 World Cup Asia finals at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. This one-sided contest highlighted Nepal’s exceptional cricketing prowess, leaving spectators in awe of their performance.
Singapore won the toss and elected to bat, placing Nepal in the field. Nevertheless, Nepal’s skipper, Rohit Paudel, and his team took full advantage of the situation, showcasing their determination to seize the Match. Singapore, facing a formidable Nepalese bowling attack, struggled to set a challenging target, managing just 145 runs while losing 9 wickets during their allotted 20 overs. Abinash Bohara led the charge with an impressive three-wicket haul, supported by Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Gulshan Jha, each contributing two wickets. Unfortunately, Sompal Kami remained wicketless on the day.
Singapore’s innings got off to a shaky start, with their captain, Aritra Dutt, Amartya Kaul, and Ananth Krishna, all departing for ducks. However, Rohan Rangarajan played a lone hand, scoring 46 runs off just 30 deliveries and emerging as the top scorer for Singapore. Manpreet Singh contributed 24 runs, and Aryaveer Chaudhary added 37, but wickets fell quickly towards the end. Akshay Puri’s unbeaten 13 runs were crucial in helping Singapore reach a respectable total. Surendran Chandramohan, Janak Prakash, and Thilip Thilappan contributed with 6, 7, and 1 run, respectively, while Ramesh Kalimuthu remained not out with 1 run.
Nepal’s response to the 146-run target was measured and controlled. Aasif Seikh and Kushal Bhurtel formed a steady opening partnership. Seikh contributed 27 runs off 26 balls, while Bhurtel showcased brilliance by scoring a half-century, accumulating 74 runs off 48 balls. Bhurtel’s display of power and technique anchored Nepal’s run chase. Upon Aasif’s departure, Captain Rohit Paudel took the crease, steering his team towards victory with an unbeaten 35 runs off 24 balls. The batting maestro displayed both patience and aggression when necessary, ensuring Nepal’s commanding win. Kushal Malla, who followed Bhurtel, sealed the deal by hitting a six with just one ball, securing victory with eight wickets in hand.
Singapore’s bowlers, Ananth Krishna and Akshay Puri, managed to take one wicket each. However, they were overshadowed by the formidable Nepalese batting lineup, which made light work of the target.
Nepal has initiated the WT20 Qualifiers Asia finals with an impressive victory, signifying their strong start to the tournament. Their dominant performance hints at a promising journey in the matches to come, showcasing the team’s growing potential for future encounters. As they continue to exhibit their prowess on the international stage, Nepal is undoubtedly a team to beat in this tournament.
Discussion about this post