By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – All-Rounder Dipendra Singh Airee’s brilliant all-round performance has guided Nepal to a second successive victory in their title defense of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. Nepal defeated Qatar by 32 runs in their second outing to go two wins out of two in Oman.
Nepal, batting first after winning the toss, were taken to a mammoth total of 210 runs, losing seven wickets in 20 overs. Dipendra Singh Airee smashed a 21-ball 64 with three fours and seven sixes. Airee hit Kamran Khan for six sixes in the final over of the innings to become only the third T20I batter to achieve the fit, fifth in international cricket.
Nepal were aided by opener Aasif Sheikh’s 41-ball 52 as well as a quickfire 35 off 18 deliveries from Kushal Malla. Skipper Rohit Paudel chipped in with 18 runs.
Himanshu Rathod and Musawar Shah were able to take three Nepali wickets each with one remaining wicket going to Amir Farooq’s name.
In reply, Qatar could only manage to conjure up 178 runs for nine wickets in 20 overs. Skipper Muhammad Tanveer remained their top scorer with a 33-ball 63 comprising of six boundaries and four sixes. Mohammad Ahnaff scored 23 off 18 while Himanshu Rathod remained unbeaten on 22 off 18.
Dipendra came in handy with the ball as well, taking two wickets alongside Lalit Rajbanshi and Gulshan Jha who picked up a couple themselves. Kushal Malla and Abinash Bohora took one wicket each.
Nepal will take on Hong Kong in their third Group A outing on Monday before rounding off the group stages against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
