Nepal beat PNG to bag fifth League-2 win in row

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb 28: Nepal continued its winning tempo at ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League-2 after trouncing Papua New Guinea (PNG) by four wickets at Dubai International Cricket Ground, Dubai on Monday.

The victory against PNG kept Nepal’s dream alive of securing One Day International (ODI) status. Nepal still remains in the second-last position in League-2 with 28 points from 29 matches. PNG, who has already been relegated from the league-II, is at the bottom of the standings with five points from 29 matches.

Nepal chased the target of 204 runs with the loss of six wickets in 45.2 overs. 

Nepal made an impressive start as opener duo Kushal Bhurtel and Aarif Sheikh made a 76-run partnership for the first wicket.

Opener and Player of the match Bhurtel clubbed the highest 56 runs for the winning side. He hit five boundaries off 69 balls. His opening partner Aasif Sheikh hit 44 runs off 39 balls that included five boundaries.  Aarif Sheikh also chipped in with 33 runs off 62 balls. 

Similarly, Dipendra Singh Airee added 22 and Kushal Malla chipped in with not out 12 runs in Nepal’s fifth consecutive win in the League-2

Earlier, PNG batted first to score 203 runs losing nine wickets in the allocated 50 overs. Skipper Assad Vala and Chad Soper each scored the highest 36 runs for victim PNG. Soper was not out at the crease with 53-ball 36.

Similarly, opener Kiplin Doriga (29), Norman Vanua (25) and Hiri Hiri (10) were other PNG batters to score double digits.

Gulsan Jha claimed three wickets and Kushal Malla grabbed two wickets to restrict PNG to a medium total. Sompal Kami, Karan KC and debutant Pratis GC also had one wicket apiece for Nepal.

The fast bowler GC finished with a figure of 1-37 from his spell of six overs.  

Lamichhane allowed to go abroad Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane can travel abroad with the National cricket team for international matches following the verdict of the Supreme Court on Monday.

A joint bench of Justices Sapna Pradhan Malla and Kumar Chudal today ordered that cricketer Lamichhane be allowed to go abroad to play cricket as he is an international player.

Informing about the court's order, spokesperson Bimal Paudel said, "Since he is an international cricket player, he should not be banned from going abroad. The order says to send a written request to the relevant authorities to allow him to go abroad."

Former skipper Lamichhane, who was accused of allegedly raping the minor, was prohibited to travel abroad after Patan High Court released him on conditional bail on January 12. 

The court also ruled that leg-spinner Lamichhane is not needed to be kept in custody while the trial is underway as demanded by the office of the attorney general.

The order was passed by the court after hearing the review petition filed by the Attorney General's Office against Lamichhane after the order of the High Court to release him on bail. The case was heard in closed sessions on Sunday and Monday.