KATHMANDU, Jan 11: Nepal cricket team has suffered consecutive second defeat in the ongoing fifth edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup at the Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala, Pakistan. Bangladesh defeated Nepal by four wickets chasing the Nepal’s total of 235 runs in 34th over. Nepal had lost to Pakistan in its first match of the tournament by nine wickets on Tuesday.
Bangladesh batsman Mohammud Rashid scored 60 runs supported by Aasikar Rahman’s 45 and Mohammad Abdul Malik’s 38 runs to chase down the target in 33.3 overs. Nepal’s Bharat Thapa picked up two wickets in the match. Other Nepali players Kritan Shrestha Duwal, Khimanand Gaire and Durga Poudel picked up a wicket each but couldn’t prevent Nepal’s defeat.
The unseen side of cricket
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. Nepal skipper Duwal scored 66 runs from 73 deliveries including three fours coming in at 5 for 69 to rescue Nepal when the team was struggling for a respectable total of 234 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the allocated overs. Duwal shared a partnership of 109 runs with Padam Badela, who scored 34 runs in the match. Bangladesh’s Khorshid Alam and Aamir Ullah picked up three and two wickets respectively.
Duwal earned the title of most valuable player of the match.
The teams participating in the tournament include test-playing nations such as Australia, England and India. However, these three teams will play in UAE as they refused to play in Pakistan citing security reasons. Only Bangladesh and Nepal agreed to play in Pakistan.
The final of the tournament will be held on January 19 in Sharjah.
