Matthew’s 6-wicket haul helps Ireland Wolves win OD series

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 6: A six-wicket haul by Matthew Humphreys helped Ireland Wolves bundle out Nepal A at 60 runs and win the second one-day by 114 runs on Friday.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Nepal A was able to restrict the Irish side to 174 runs in 38.4 overs with three wickets each by Rijan Dhakal and Shahab Alam. Mausam Dhakal bagged two wickets and Kamal Singh Airee took one each as well.

Starting with a wicket in the first over, Nepal A would have bundled out Ireland for a lower total; however, a half-century by Gavin Hoey, in at 8 batsman, and a supportive inning of 35 runs by in-at-nine Liam McCarthy shattered the chances.

Ireland skipper Neil Rock also scored 45 off 38 before getting out as the seventh wicket in 20.3 overs. Only Peter Moor (17 off 17) was the other batsmen to score in double figures for Ireland Wolves.

While the host expected to chase the target of 175 runs easily in 300 balls, the wickets kept on falling with only two Nepali batsmen scoring in double figures.

With Dev Khanal departing for a duck in the third ball of the first over, Nepal A lost three more wickets by the end of the 9th over. It was only Bhim Sharki (17 off 21) and skipper Binod Bhandari (16 off 19) who scored runs in two digits. 

Of the six wickets by Matthew, two were catch outs, two were leg-before, one stumping and one bold. Arjun Saud (5 off 18), Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh (0 off 3), Rijan Dhakal (0 off 7), Shahab Alam (1 off 5) and Mausam Dhakal (0 off 1) were Matthew’s victims.

The remaining four wickets were taken by Fionn Hand and Thomas Mayes (two wickets each) to bundle out Nepal at 60 runs in 16.5 overs.

Earlier, Nepal A had lost the first two T20 matches and won the final third match against Ireland Wolves. The scenario is repeating in the 3-OD series as well since Nepal A had lost the series 2-0 by losing the first two matches. 

The host will be looking forward to disallow the Irish side from registering a clean sweep by winning the third and final OD match on April 7.