By a Staff Reporter
Young opener Asif Sheikh’s century led Nepal to a 7-wicket victory over home team Kenya in the first one-day practice match. With this, Nepal has taken a 1-0 lead in three one-day practice matches.
Nepal chased a winning target of 219 runs in 47.2 overs losing 3 wickets. Asif played the highest innings of 110 runs in 120 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes in Nepal’s victory.
Arjun Saud and Asif Sheikh shared a partnership of 141 runs in 31.1 overs for the first wicket. Arjun was dismissed for 61 runs off 97 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Arjun completed his half-century in 77 balls.
Moreover, Gyandnera Malla moved back to the dugout collecting 24 runs off 50 balls whereas Captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee remained unbeaten in 3 and 15 runs respectively.
Kenya, who won the toss and chosen to bat first at Gymkhana New Grop were all out at 218 runs in 48.1 overs. Rakep Patel earned the most runs of 67 for Kenya. Collins Obuya was dismissed for 62 runs off 118 balls. Other Kenyan batters could not perform on the home soil.
Fast bowlers Sompal Kami and Karan KC took 3 wickets each whereas Pawan Sharaf and Adil Ansari took a wicket each to stop Kenya at 218.
The second match will be played on Saturday. Sandeep Lamichhane flew to the West Indies to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after the completion of the T20I series. Nepal won the series of five T20I matches 3-2.
