Nepal Concludes T20 World Cup Practice Tour on a High Note
The Nepali men’s cricket team wrapped up their T20 World Cup practice tour on a successful note with a dominant performance against the Mumbai Cricket Academy Presidents XI. The match took place at the Brabourne Cricket Stadium, where Nepal’s team showcased their skills with a 48-run victory.
Nepal’s Impressive Performance in Mumbai
Winning the toss, Nepal chose to bat first. They set a strong target, scoring 183 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs. In response, the Mumbai Cricket Academy could only manage 135 runs, losing 8 wickets by the end of their innings.
Key Performers
Aarif Sheikh played a crucial role in Nepal’s innings, finishing not out on 66 from 42 balls. Other notable contributors included:
- Sundeep Jora: 31 runs from 26 balls
- Aasif Sheikh: 25 runs from 17 balls
- Gulshan Jha: 23 runs from 12 balls
- Lokesh Bam: 15 runs
- Basir Ahmad: 9 runs
On the bowling side, Sandeep Lamichhane was outstanding, taking 3 wickets. Lalit Rajbanshi and Gulshan Jha also contributed with two wickets each.
Details of the Practice Matches
This victory followed Nepal’s earlier success against MCA, where they chased down a target of 143 runs, winning by seven wickets. Key performances in that match included:
- Rohit Paudel: Unbeaten 50 runs
- Kushal Bhurtel: 38 runs
- Dipendra Singh Airee: 28 runs
- Aasif Sheikh: 16 runs
MCA had posted a total of 142 runs in their innings during that match.
Upcoming Matches
With the Mumbai practice fixtures concluded, Nepal’s team will now travel to Chennai. They are set to face the United Arab Emirates on February 3, followed by a match against Canada on February 5. These matches will serve as important warm-ups prior to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nepal is set to begin their World Cup journey on February 8 against England, aiming for a strong start in Group C, which also features former champions West Indies, Italy, and Scotland.
As Nepal concludes their T20 World Cup practice tour, the team appears to be building momentum for their upcoming international engagements.
