KATHMANDU, December 4: Nepali national cricket team registered a six-wicket win over Kenya in a practice match in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Nepal, which is in United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its last round matches of ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) against the home team, had faced a five-wicket defeat to United States America (USA) in its first practice match on Saturday.
Nepal defeats Kenya in practice match
Nepali team which was without its key players including captain Paras Khadka, Vice-captain Gyanendra Malla, Binod Bhandari, Basant Regmi and Sompal Kami, won the toss at Nursery Oval Ground and invited Kenya to bat.
Kenya was bowled out for a paltry 110 in 32.2 overs after Lalit Bhandari completed impressive four wickets haul. In reply, Nepal reached to the target in 19.5 overs losing out just four wickets.
Kenyan side made a positive start with its openers Rushab Patel and Alexauma Obanda creating a 54-run partnership for the first wicket. Patel smashed 27 off 27 balls while Obanda made 25 runs in 13 deliveries. But losing out three batsmen cheaply back to back in Lalit Bhandari's ball didn't help the Kenyan side. Third and fourth number batsmen Dhiren Gondaria and Rakep Patel were dismissed for five and three runs respectively while Collins Obuya who came to bat at fifth number was out for a duck in Bhandari's delivery.
Gurdeep Singh was another notable contributor for Kenya who scored 45 off 22 balls while Nelson Odhiambo made 10 runs. Sandeep Lamichhane supported Bhandari in bowling adding two wickets for Nepal while Karan KC, Sagar Pun and MD Aarif Sheikh claimed one wicket each.
Sharad Vesawkar who was captaining the side in the absence of Paras Khadka smashed 31 runs facing 50 balls while unbeaten Dipendra Singh Airee was top scorer for Nepal with 35 runs of 46 balls. Young batsman Anil Kumar Sah contributed 13 runs while Aarif Sheikh (not out) made four runs.
Nelson Odhiambo bagged two wickets for Kenya while Lucas Ndandason added another.
Nepal will now take on home team UAE in first leg match of ICC World Cricket League Championship's last round draw at Zayed Cricket Stadium of Abu Dhabi. Two days later, two sides will compete at the same stadium in second leg encounter.
