Nepal crush Melbourne Renegades for second straight win

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 21: A five-wicket haul from pacer Sompal Kami steered Nepal to their second consecutive victory in the Top End T20 Series. Nepal defeated Melbourne Renegades Academy by 33 runs in Darwin on Wednesday.

The result has lifted Nepal to sixth position in the standings. Chicago Kingsmen (8 points), Pakistan Shaheens (6), Northern Territory Strike (6), Perth Scorchers Academy (6), and Melbourne Stars Academy (4) occupy the top five spots.

Electing to bat first, Nepal posted a modest total of 139 runs, losing nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Melbourne crumbled under Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 106.

The Australian side faltered early and never recovered. Nepal’s quick Sompal Kami led the charge, tearing through the Renegades’ batting line-up with figures of 5 for 17 from four overs. He claimed his first wicket by bowling opener Dylan Brasher for 2.

Kushal Bhurtel, Shahab Alam, and Rupesh Singh picked up one wicket each to dismantle the Renegades’ top order. Captain Will Sutherland (6), Harry Dixon (16), and Ollie Peake (14) were back in the dugout early as the hosts slumped to 44 for 4 in 9.4 overs.

Sompal then teamed up with Lokesh Bam to run out Jai Lemire (18), before adding four more scalps to his tally. He bowled Arjun Nair (26), the Renegades’ top scorer, for his second wicket. After Nair’s brief resistance, the innings lost momentum.

Sompal trapped Fergus O’Neill (0) leg before and had Harry Hoekstra (11) caught by Shahab Alam for his third and fourth wickets. He sealed the win in the final over, dismissing Callum Stow (0), caught by Kushal Bhurtel, who finished with figures of 2 for 20. Alam and Rupesh Singh settled for one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Nepal’s innings got off to a shaky start, with openers Kushal Bhurtel (1) and Arif Sheikh (12) departing cheaply. However, a steady 50-run partnership between Bhim Sharki (27) and Kushal Malla (29 off 22 balls) stabilised the innings. Malla emerged as Nepal’s top scorer.

Despite a middle-order wobble, valuable contributions from Dipendra Singh Airee (27), Lokesh Bam (24), and an unbeaten 16 from Rupesh Singh helped Nepal reach a defendable total.

Melbourne’s bowlers shared the spoils, with O’Neill, Stow, Lachlan Bangs, and Michael Archer each claiming two wickets.

Nepal’s win comes after a rocky start to the series, having lost their first three matches. With back-to-back victories, the team has bounced back strongly.

Against the Renegades, senior players including captain Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Aasif Sheikh, Rijan Dhakal, and Karan KC were rested. All-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee led the side in their absence.

Nepal will look to carry this momentum into their final league fixture against Pakistan Shaheens on Friday.