Yesterday was a good day for Nepali cricket fans, Nepal registered a huge victory over UAE and made a brilliant comeback in the three-game series. Nepal won the match by 145 runs; this is the biggest win in the ODI cricket for Nepal. After the loss in the first game in the series, Nepal’s comeback was successful due to the impressive performance from the young players. Yesterday Batting first Nepal made 242 runs in loss of 9 wickets at the end of 50 over. Chasing the target of 243 runs UAE were restricted in 97 runs at the 19.3 overs.

Image Source: Nepal VS UAE

After winning the toss Nepal’s captain, Parash Khadka chose to bat first. Gyanendra Malla and Binod Bhandari gave a perfect start and made a partnership of 61 runs for the first wicket. Binod Bhandari got caught in the 16th over; he contributed 21 runs. Again in the 19th over Nepal lost the wicket of opener Gyandendra Malla, he scored 44 runs facing 61 balls with the help of four fours. After that Nepal lost their wicket one after another, DS Airee was LBW trapped by Ashfaq Ahamed. He was able to score just ten runs. After that Pawan Sarraf got caught, he contributed just eight runs. Again Nepal lost the big wicket of their captain Parash Khadka; he contributed 21 runs. Nepal was at the critical condition of 113\5 at the end of 29th over. After that, the two new batsmen Rohit Kumar Paudel and Aarif Sheikh played a brilliant partnership of 82 runs. Nepal was near to 200 runs, and Aarif got LBW trapped in the 45th over. He contributed 29 runs in 49 balls with the help of two fours. After that Rohit Kumar Paudel also got caught in the bowl of Aamir Hayat. He made a brilliant 55 runs in 57 balls; he also became the youngest player to hit a half-century, the record was previously held by Sahid Afridi. Then Karan KC played an attacking inning and scored 18 runs in 11 balls with two maximums and one four. Sompal Kami scored just two runs. Meanwhile, Lalit and Sandeep remained not out scoring 3 and 14 runs respectively. Nepal made a good score of 242 runs at the end of 50 over.

Chasing the target of 243 runs, UAE’s top order was destroyed by Sompal Kami. He picked up all four top-order batsman wicket, UAE lost their four important batsmen in just 29 runs. After that Sandeep Lamichhane pricked up three wickets in the 15th over. Nepali bowlers continued to show the strong performance and restricted UAE in just 97 runs. Sompal Kami picked up five crucial wickets, he bowled 6.1 overs and conceded just 24 runs. Sandeep also grabbed four wickets conceding 24 runs. Sompal became the first Nepali player to pick up five wickets in the ODI cricket. He has picked up five wickets in his international carrier two times, both times against the UAE.

I am happy with this performance from team Nepal. Young players showed their brilliant performance; I hope other players like Bhim Sarki will also get chance in this series. Tomorrow is the decider match between Nepal and UAE; I hope we will win this match. All the Best Team Nepal.