Opening batsman Airee smashed 59 runs off 28 balls as the home team reached 171/5 and then restricted Maldives to a paltry total of 95/7. Airee shared an 80-run opening stand with Subash Khakurel (26) before being bowled in 6.3 overs by Mohamed Saafee. Airee struck eight fours and four sixes during his knock. [break]
It was Nepal´s second highest score in the short-format cricket. During the last edition held in 2011, Nepal had scored the highest 183 runs against Saudi Arabia. Airee´s half-century was also the second fastest by a Nepali player. Two years ago, Mehboob Alam had reached half-century in 20 balls.
Earlier, Airee had scored a half-century against Denmark in the World Cup T20 Qualifiers in Dubai. But he had been playing in the middle order after he failed as an opening batsman in the U-19 World Cup.
"I was a bit nervous to play as opener on home ground. But the ball connected well from the beginning and runs came easily. I was hoping to reach century after a good start," said man-of-the-match Airee."But I was out after playing a wrong shot." He was bowled while trying to sweep Saafee´s delivery.
Nepal made a solid start in batting scoring 13 runs in the first over. Nepal scored the highest 24 runs in the third over with Airee smashing two sixes and two fours off Neesham Nasir. Airee reached 50 off just 21 deliveries.
"He could destroy any attack and that´s his strength," said Nepal´s Sri Lankan coach Pubudu Dassanayake. "But now is the time to step up, as we are playing with good teams from tomorrow."
"Overall, we had a great start in the tournament and I am happy for that," Nepal´s skipper Paras Khadka said after the match. "Airee was exceptional today and he had a good start with Khakurel," said Khadka.
Sixth order batsman Sarad Vesawkar was the second highest scorer for Nepal with an unbeaten 36 off 18, while Manjeet Shrestha made 20 in his T20 debut. The two shared a 43-run partnership. Binod Bhandari (15), Paras Khadka (10) and Gyanendra Malla (2) were the other batsmen to contribute to Nepal´s total.
Coach Dassanayake opined that his team was 25-30 runs short despite making a good start. "We had a great start, but the total was still short by 25-30 runs when we play against a good team."
Mohamed Saafee took two wickets for Maldives, while Abdullah Shahid and Ahmed Faiz claimed one each.
Eighth order batsman Neesham Nasir (unbeaten 20) was the highest scorer for Maldives that lost wickets at regular intervals. Openers I Ali (3), Mohamed Rishwan (15), Abdullah Shahid (12), I Jayakody (0), Shafraz Jaleel (10), Ahmade Faiz (17), Mihusan Hamid (11) and R Madurwala (5) also contributed for Maldives.
Skipper Khadka was the most successful bowler for Nepal as he claimed two wickets in his two-over spell conceding seven runs. Shakti Gauchan, Manjeet Shrestha, Basanta Regmi and Sanjam Regmi took a wicket each.
PHOTOS BY BIKASH KARKI
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