Nepal begin Top End T20 campaign with 42-run loss

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 16: Nepal’s men’s national cricket team suffered a 42-run defeat at the hands of Northern Territory Strike (NTS) in their opening fixture of the Top End T20 Series at Marrara Cricket Ground on Friday.

Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Nepal restricted the hosts to 177 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, Nepal could only muster 135 for 8, falling short despite flashes of resistance.

Nepal’s innings got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 25 runs inside 5.4 overs. Opener Kushal Bhurtel was bowled by Matt Hammond for 8 in the fourth over. Lokesh Bam departed for a duck, caught by Thomas Andrews off Hammond, while Aasif Sheikh became Hammond’s third scalp, scoring 11 off 14 balls, including a solitary six.

Skipper Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla attempted to rebuild, adding 35 runs for the fourth wicket. Rohit struck two sixes in his 23-run knock off 21 balls before falling in the 10th over. Malla top-scored for Nepal with a brisk 34 off 26 deliveries, featuring one four and two sixes.

Despite a late flourish from Gulshan Jha, who smashed 26 off just 10 balls with two boundaries and two maximums, Nepal failed to string together meaningful partnerships. Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 19 off 24 balls, while Sompal Kami managed just a single. Rupesh Singh (8 off 7) and Sandeep Lamichhane (2 off 2) remained unbeaten at the close.

For NT Strike, Matt Hammond led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 21 from his four overs. Thomas Andrews and Kane Richardson chipped in with two wickets apiece, keeping Nepal’s batters under pressure throughout the innings.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, NTS openers Jake Weatherald and D’Arcy Short laid a solid foundation with a 46-run stand. Weatherald was dismissed for 11, caught off Rupesh Singh, while Short anchored the innings with a fluent 51 off 34 balls, laced with seven fours and a six, before being bowled by Lamichhane.

Lamichhane also removed Jacob Dickman for a duck and later stumped Cadell McMahon, finishing with figures of 3 for 38. Shahab Alam claimed two wickets, while Rupesh Singh, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Rohit Paudel picked up one apiece.

Thomas Andrews remained unbeaten on 32 off 26 balls, with handy contributions from Connor Carroll (18), Jordan Silk (19), and McMahon (12) helping NTS post a competitive total.

Nepal will face Bangladesh ‘A’ in their second match on Saturday. This marks Nepal’s debut appearance in the Top End T20 Series, where they are scheduled to play six matches in the league stage.