Nepal A team tied the series 1-1 against Canada XI after winning the second match on Tuesday. Nepal won by two wickets in a thrilling chase at the Mulpani Cricket Ground.
Sundeep Jora commanded the team during Binod Bhandari’s absence. Jora and Basir Ahamad each struck a half-century to secure Nepal’s victory. The series’ final match is scheduled for February 22.
Following a target of 241 runs, Nepal completed the chase with only five balls remaining, losing eight wickets. Mayan Yadav was removed on the first ball of the inning, and Sher Malla (7) walked back in the third over, leaving Nepal 13/2. Arjun Kumal and Sundeep Jora then added 104 runs for the third wicket to help Nepal’s batting. Kumal and Jora were both removed within two balls. Arjun scored 40 runs, while Sundeep hit 66 runs (including seven fours and one six).
Nepal A vs Canada XI | 2nd ODI
Rashid Khan and Basir Ahamad’s 77-run stand for the sixth wicket changed the game for Nepal. Rashid scored 51 runs from 47 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, Basir remained till the finish, completing a back-to-back half-century. He made 52* runs off 73 balls and scored the winning run in 49.1 overs.
For Canada, Shahid Ahmadzai, Ammor Khalid, and Nikhil Dutta each took two wickets. Harsh Thaker and Saad Bin Zafar both claimed one wicket each.
Earlier in the first inning, Canada XI scored a respectable 241 runs before being bowled out after 49.5 overs.
When asked to bat first, the Canadian opener performed an excellent job. Aaron Johnson and Srimantha Wijeyeratne made an excellent start, scoring 64 runs until Sagar Dhakal trapped Johnson LBW for 36 in 11.3 overs. They were immediately reduced to 104/4 in the 23rd over after fast wickets from the Nepalese spinners. Wijeyeratne scored 41 runs, while Nicholas Kirton (7) and Harsh Thaker (8) were dismissed cheaply.
Navneet Dhaliwal and Shreyas Movva then added 66 runs for the fifth wicket. Dhaliwal scored 46 runs, including six fours and a six. Shreyas Movva batted sensibly, scoring 68 runs before getting removed in the final over. Dilon Heyliger also scored 16 runs.
Shahab Alam was Nepal’s bowler of choice. He took three wickets and finished with a total of 10-1-38-3. Sher Malla and Rashid Khan took two wickets each. Basir Ahamad and Sagar Dhakal both claimed one wicket each.