Pakistan Shaheens have clinched a thrilling victory by one run against Nepal in the 30th match in Darwin on Friday. According to details, chasing 145-run target, Nepal were restricted on 143-7 in 20 overs, with captain Rohit Paudel’s 44-ball 52 went in vain.
Paudel smashed six boundaries and one towering six to notch a half-century. Dipendra Singh Airee was looking in sublime form and treating the Shaheens’ bowlers with the utter contempt, before he was run out by Abdul Samad and Ghazi Ghori in a joint effort.
Nepal faced early setback, when opener Kushal Bhurtel (9-ball 4) was removed by Mohammad Salman.
Aasif Sheikh started to rebound the Nepalese innings and stitched a 52-run partnership with captain Paudel.
The Shaheens, who were nowhere in the game, bounced back when Paudel was removed by Mohammad Wasim.
The wicket of Paudel, provided the Green Shirts with the hope to stage a comeback. But in the end, the Shaheens managed to hold their nerves and sweep past Nepal.
For the Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim (2-28), Faisal Akram (2-29) took two wickets apiece.
Mohammad Salman (1-28) took a scalp.
Mehran Mumtaz (0-20_, Mubasir Khan (0-29), Maaz Sadaqat (0-8) remained wicketless.
Earlier, the Shaheens had elected to bat first against Nepal. But the wicket of Maaz Sadaqat started the slide and it went downhill thereafter. Inside the 13th over, the Shaheens lost seven wickets for 74. But the Shaheens’ skipper, Irfan Khan Niazi came to his team’s rescue, compiling an unbeaten 26-ball 42. He clobbered three boundaries and one towering six.
With the exception of Niazi, only Abdul Samad (26) and Mohammad Wasim (23) showed resistance with the bat.
Yasir Khan (18), Maaz Sadaqat (1), Mohammad Faiq (2), Ghazi Ghori (4), Mubasir Khan (3), Mehran Mumtaz (10), Faisal Akram (1) failed to show any resistance with the bat.
Mohammad Salman (1) remained unbeaten.
For Nepal, Sompal Kami (3-30) remained their standout bowler, picking up three wickets.
Dipendra Singh Airee (2-15), Nandan Yadav (2-32) have picked up two wickets apiece.
Kushal Bhurtel (1-29) took a scalp.
Kushal Malla (0-9) and Sandeep Lamichhane (0-28) remained wicketless.
