Man-of-the-match Subash Khakurel and Rahul BK were the key players in Nepal´s victory. Khakurel scored 55 runs off 95 balls while BK took four wickets in his 7.5 overs conceding 24 runs. Till date Nepal had lost two matches against Afghanistan and registered two wins. [break]
Losing the toss, Nepal was invited to bat first and scored 154 runs off 44.3 overs. Nepal had a good opening start of 55 runs between Subash Khakurel and Fajlur Rehman. Nepal lost their first wicket of Rehman scoring 26 runs off 31 balls. With the fall of the first wicket Nepal continued to lose their wickets one after another. Sagar Pun was the next batsman to be out scoring just three runs off 10 balls.
Nepal´s captain Prithu Baskota was sent back to the pavilion for a duck. Naresh Budhaayer and Pradeep Aire took over after the fall of captain but couldn´t put up an impressive show. Budhaayer scored 11 runs while Airee scored two runs before being run out.
Nepal had scored 103 runs losing five wickets by 25.2 overs. With the fall of Khakurel in the 28.4 overs Nepal lost its remaining five wickets for just 45 runs. Rajesh Pulami scored 20 runs and Rahul BK scored 10 runs for the team as the other remaining batsmen could not reach double figures.
Yamin Ahmadzai, Shir Shirzai, Sayed Shirzad and Abdul Naseri took two wickets each for Afghanistan while Aftab Alam grabbed a wicket.
Chasing the target of 155 runs in 50 overs Afghanistan was bowled out in just 112 runs off 37.5 overs. Afghanistan did not start well as they lost their first wicket when the score was four runs. Abhinash Karna gave a break through the wicket of Javed Ahmadi in the first over of the innings.
After the fall of Ahmadi in the first over, Afghanistan recovered and had 53 runs partnership.
Rahul BK broke the partnership and gave Nepal a hope. BK took the wicket of Shir Shirzai in the 18th over and Najibullah Zadran in the 20th over. Nepali off spinner and national captain Prithu Baskota took the wicket of settled batsman Hashmatullah Shaidi and turned the tables in Nepal´s favor with two wickets in an over.
Baskota took the wickets of Shaidi and Rahmatullah Sahaq in the same over. Shaidi scored 25 runs off 61 balls while Sahaq was out for a duck.
Afghanistan tried to come back into the game but medium pacer Krishna Karki sent Afsar Khan back to the pavilion. Khan scored 11 runs before being bowled out. In the next over he dismissed Aftab Alam after he scored a boundary in the first ball.
Baskota took the wicket of Yamin Ahmadzai and brought the game under Nepal´s control. Ahmadzai was out on five runs off 14 balls. After the fall of Ahmadzai, Afghanistan were kept in the back foot. BK took the wicket of Mohibullah Paak who was looking dangerous on the crease. Paak had scored 24 runs off 55 balls. On the very next ball BK sent Sayed Shirzad back to the pavilion
Captain Baskota grabbed three wickets as Krishna Karki took two wickets.
Nepal´s coach Jagat Tamata said, “Nepal´s batting was not good, while the bowling and fielding was excellent. After Rahul BK was introduced in 25th over the game came in our favor.”
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