Paras scores Nepal to chase 139

Just Nepali Cricket/November 12

Skipper Paras Khadka made not out 85 runs off 62 balls to pursue the sturdy target of 139 (Nepal made 142/5) provided by UAE at the first official warm up match in ICC Academy Ground No 2, Dubai, on Today.

Paras won the toss and elected to field first looking at the pitch and knowing the fact that UAE is more familiar with own condition. Nepali pacers Jitendra Mukhiya and Amrit Bhattarai initially kept UAE batsmen under pressure by bowling on decent line and length, which yield them a wicket each within three over. However, veteran batsmen duo Khurram Khan and Saqib Ali effortlessly scored runs off Nepali fast bowlers. They shared 52 runs partnership in just 37 balls by scoring in brisk rate. Off spinner, Sagar Pun broke their partnership by taking the wicket of Saqib, when they looks more danger and headed toward immense total. Since then, spinner trio Sagar, Basanta Regmi and Shakti Gauchan did not allow them to attain many boundries and crafts pressure for batsmen. Afterward, UAE found hard to score runs and start losing wickets in regular

interval and they made 126 in 19 over. Last over of the inning bowled by Jitendra has been little adventurous as that over yield 2 wickets and cost 12 runs. Jitendra took wickets in first and fifth ball but gave away a six and four in two balls. Amjad Javed played cameo where he scored 19 runs in just nine balls and superb inning by Khurram took UAE to the decent 138 losing seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Saqib and Rohan Mustafa made 18 and 16 runs respectively.  Jitendra took highest three wickets for Nepal. Amrit, Sagar, Paras and Basanta Regmi shared a wicket each.

In a bid to follow the target, Nepali team got worst start as opener and much anticipated Pradeep Airee got golden duck out in fourth ball of the inning. The team has expected him to play a big role in chase as he made 58 runs with same team at the semi final of ACC Twenty20 Cup 2013 in Nepal. Another opener Subash Khakurel did not stay long at the crease and returned to the pavilion after scoring 14 runs. Nevertheless, Paras and vice Captain Gyanendra Malla shared important 69 runs partnership to rescue Nepal from big mess. Paras scored with his natural manner and Gyanendra was sensible while taking runs. Malla was out when he tried to accelerate the inning off bowler Nasis Aziz. At penultimate over, Nepal lost both Binod Bhandari and Sharad Vesawkar, who were unable to help skipper to finish the match but Paras did not stop to make run all over the ground. He did strike a six and a four at same over and the total 15 runs scored by the team at same over. At final over, Nepal needed just six runs to win and Paras hit a boundary in first ball and took single in second ball. Sagar Pun faced the third ball and he did whack the winning run by scoring four in first ball he faced. Apart from Paras, Gyanendra scored 25 runs. Nasir Aziz of UAE took three Nepali wickets.  Manjula Gurunge and Ehsan Silva shared one wicket apiece.

Nepal will face USA for second official warm up match on tomorrow November 13 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium Nursery 2, Abu Dhabi and the match will be on same time 11:45 NST.

Brief summary:
First official Warm up match:
Just Nepali Cricket

Nepal vs UAE
Toss won by Nepal and elected to field first.
First inning:
UAE: 138/7 (20 overs)
Khurram Khan 55 (40), Amjad Javed 19 (09), Saqib Ali 18 (19), Rohan Mustafa 16 (24) Jitendra Mukhiya 3/30 ( 3 overs), Amrit 
Bhattarai 1/33 ( 4 overs), Sagar Pun 1/22 (4 overs), Paras Khadka 1/15 (2 overs), Basanta Regmi 1/15 ( 3 overs), Shakti Gauchan 0/22 ( 4 overs)
Second inning:
Nepal: 142/5 (19.3 overs)
Paras Khadka 85* (62), Gyanendra Malla 25 (30), Subash Khkurel 14 (14)
Nasis Aziz 3/44 (4 overs), Shadeep Silva 1/15 (4 overs), Manjula Gurunge 1/20 (3 overs)
Result: Nepal won the match by five wickets.