KATHMANDU, Sept 29: Captain Paras Khadka made a number of records in his maiden hundred against Singapore cricket team to propel Nepal to its biggest wins in terms of wickets in the second match of Tri-nation T20 international series held at the Indian Association Ground in Singapore on Saturday.
Khadka became first player to score a century for Nepal in a T20I match when he finished unbeaten on 106 runs. He completed the century in 49 deliveries and smashed nine sixes including seven boundaries during the dominating innings.
He is third in the list with most sixes in an innings as a captain after Australian Aaron Finch and India’s Rohit Sharma who both have 10 sixes each.
The records galore as he become first ever captain to score a century while chasing a total in a T20I match. His century is also the highest score in simultaneous low total in an innings. Previously, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell held the record. He shared the highest partnership with Aarif Sheikh who anchored the partnership of 145 runs for the second wicket as Nepal won by 9 wickets. In rather forgettable day for Singapore bowlers, Janak Prakash was the only wicket taker in the innings dismissing Ishan Pandey for five runs with a perfect in-swinger trapping the batsman for LBW.
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Nepal had lost to Singapore in last encounter between the two teams during the ICC World T20 Asia Region Finals in the do-or-die match for the global qualifiers.
Nepal which lost the first match against Zimbabwe on Friday has collected two points on Saturday and is now on second position in the group table.
Earlier, new captain Timothy David played an inspiring knock after Singapore won the toss and elected to bat first. Navin Param, Aryaman Sunil and Sidhant Singh made debuts for the home team in the match.
The former Big Bash League player David scored unbeaten 64 runs off 44 deliveries including three fours and four sixes. He dominated the partnership of 45 runs with Manpreet Singh who scored 15 runs off 22 deliveries and unbeaten 49 runs with Janak Prakash who remained not out on 25 runs off 18 deliveries which included three fours and a six.
Similarly, opening batsman Surendran Chandramohan had registered quick 35 runs off 26 deliveries which included five fours and a six. Susan Bhari, making his debut for Nepal in the match, clean bowled Chandramohan who was looking good at the crease. Sompal Kami was the most expensive bowler of the innings conceding 44 runs off four overs whereas Karan KC dismissed Singh and Rohan Rangarajan during his four-over spell conceding 34 runs.
Sandeep Lamichhane and Avinash Bohora were most economical bowlers of the innings conceding 18 and 16 runs respectively. Lamichhane was wicket-less in his four-over spell cautiously played by Singapore batsmen whereas Bohora bowled three overs but failed to take any wickets.
Nepal will next face Zimbabwe on Tuesday whereas Singapore will play the same team on Sunday.
Nepal national cricket team captain Paras Khadka (left) receiving the man of the match award after the Tri-nation T20I series match against Singapore at the Indian Association Ground in Singapore on Saturday. Photo Courtesy: Raman Shiwakoti
