GUJRANWALA, Jan 10: Pakistan defeated Nepal by 10 wickets in the group stage match at the ongoing 5th Blind Cricket World Cup, at Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala, Pakistan, on Tuesday.
It was second consecutive win for Pakistan that had won the first match against Bangladesh in the opening game of the tournament on Monday.
Nepal’s skipper Kirtan Shrestha won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening batsman Ramesh Bahadur Baniya top scored with 59 runs to his name including two fours. Nepal’s first individual fifty came off 72 deliveries.
The unseen side of cricket
Baniya was supported by Padam Badaila, batting at number four, scoring a quick-fire fifty off just 43 deliveries. He was dismissed in the next delivery. Pakistan’s Badar Munir produced three run-outs to send Nepali batsmen to pavilion.
Nepal was limited to 258 runs in the allotted 40 overs at the loss of five wickets. Haroon Khan was the only wicket-taker for Pakistan in the match who dismissed Baniya.
Badar Munir continued his good form scoring his second century (126) of the tournament, following a brilliant 145 against Bangladesh in the first match.
Munir was helped by Pakistani opener Mohsin Khan who scored 74 runs contributing to the double century opening stand before Munir was forced retired hurt. Pakistan wrapped up the chase in the 20th over without losing a single wicket. On Monday, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by nine wickets, chasing a target of 208 in 17 overs.
The tournament has teams from test-playing nations contesting, including Australia, England, and India. However, only teams from Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to play in Pakistan for now, while matches with other countries are scheduled to be held in the UAE. Nepal will face Bangladesh in the next match. The final of the tournament will be held on January 19 in Sharjah.
