By a Staff Reporter
A five-wicket haul by Karan KC and a record partnership between openers Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh helped Nepal register an easy win over Oman in the ICC World Cup Cricket League -2 on Tuesday. Nepal defeated Oman by seven wickets in the match held at Houston-based Moosa Stadium in Texas, USA to register their first victory in the USA tour for the triangular series. The victory also helped Nepal climb one spot in League 2.
During Tuesday’s match, Oman opted to bat first after winning the toss and scored 163 runs losing all its wickets in 46.5 overs. Nepal met the target of 164 runs in 33.1 overs losing three wickets.
Opening batsman duo of Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh partnered for a record century stand for Nepal. Bhurtel scored 56 runs including five boundaries off 75 balls while Sheikh made 62 runs including one six and six fours from 86 balls. The duo scored 106 runs in 22 overs without losing any wicket.
Similarly, Dev Khanal scored 10 runs off 12 balls and vice-captain unbeaten Rohit Kumar Poudel made 26 runs off 21 balls. His innings included one six and one four. Unbeaten Dipendra Singh Airee made seven runs.
Fayyaz Butt of Oman took two wickets while Khawar Ali took one wicket.
Earlier, Oman were confined to 163 runs despite a half century from Captain Zeeshan Maqsood. He scored 52 runs including three boundaries off 100 balls. Similarly, Sandeep Goud made 47 runs including one six and three fours while facing 91 balls.
Nepal’s Karan KC took five wickets, captain Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets and Sompal Kami and Dipendra Singh Airee took one wicket each.
With this win, Nepal have climbed to the fifth position in the points table. Nepal have collected 15 points from 15 matches winning seven of them.
Nepal will next play against the hosts USA under the triangular series.