KATHMANDU: In the ICC World Cup League-2 triangular one-day series, Nepal's national cricket team lost to Canada by five wickets, their second straight loss. After suffering losses to Canada and Oman earlier in the series, Nepal was left with yet another sad outcome.
Nepal lost badly to Canada in their opening match, falling down by a score of 133 runs. They also lost by just one wicket in a close encounter against Oman.
In their latest match, Nepal scored 182 runs, a target that Canada comfortably met, needing only 5 wickets in 42 overs to accomplish the target.
Navneet Dhaliwal, who scored an incredible 87 runs off 113 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes, was a major factor in Canada's triumph. His deeds prepared the way for the successful chase.
Pargat Singh also contributed significantly, adding 64 runs with 7 fours and 2 sixes off 83 balls. Both Dhaliwal and Singh’s partnership gave Canada a strong advantage in the chase.
With 13 and 11 runs, respectively, at the end of the innings, Harsh Thaker and Canadian captain Nicholas Pooran were both undefeated.
With two wickets, Sandeep Lamichhane was Nepal's most effective bowler. Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Gulsan Jha also each took one wicket.
Earlier in the day, Nepal had won the toss and elected to bat first, but they were unable to get any momentum and were dismissed for a pitiful 181 runs in 46.1 overs.
With 49 runs off of 48 balls, Sandeep Lamichhane led Nepal in scoring with five fours and one six. He did not score a half-century, but his innings was quite steady.
Nepal's batting order faltered early on, going from 7 for 87 at the 27.1 over. Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane's vital 55-run eighth-wicket stand offered some hope.
Sompal Kami was eventually dismissed for 21 runs, while the rest of the middle order struggled under pressure.
Karan KC added 24 runs but was dismissed soon after, leaving Nepal in a precarious position.
The team’s openers, Arjun Saud and Aarif Sheikh, managed only 10 runs each, and the early wickets put Nepal in a difficult spot at 36 runs for 5 wickets after just 12 overs.
Other notable dismissals included Ashif Sheikh (2), Bhim Sarki (4), captain Rohit Poudel (4), and Anil Shah (1). Gulsan Jha added a fighting 34 runs but could not prevent Nepal from being bowled out for 181.
