Kathmandu, July 20, 2016: Nepal defeated Marylebone Cricket Club (MMC) by 41 runs to record a triumph at historic Lord’s Cricket Ground of London in England on Tuesday.
Nepal’s spinners dented MMC’s run chase as they were skittled for paltry 176 runs in pursuit of 218 for victory.
MMC’s opener Adair tried to steer his side to victory with a measured innings of 100 but fell short to take his side over the line.
Nepal’s spinners bowled in tandem to tandem without giving any width to the home side and orchestrated the victory.
Sagar Pun was pick of the Nepali bowlers as he scalped up three crucial MMC’s wickets with the best figure of 10-2-35-3. Basanta Regmi claimed 3-35 while medium-pacer Som Pal Kami took 2-33.
MMC’s batsmen found hard to handle the variety of Nepali bowling as spinners took wickets at regular interval.
Adair had anchored the MMC’s innings with his sensible 100 but fell to left arm delivery of Basnata Regmi’s outgoing ball to snick a catch to Raju Rijal behind the stumps.
He also struck three maximum blows during his innings, playing spinners and seamers with ease and nudging ones and two’s all around the park. He reached his milestone off 122 deliveries, with a forward push to long-on off Basanta Regmi’s delivery.
Adair along with Wilkinson had shared 50 runs partnership for the sixth wicket and threatened to take the game away from Nepal.
Sompal Kami pegged back Wilkinson’s middle stump with a full ball, giving much needed relief to Raju Rijal as he had dropped Wilkinson’s nick while diving to his right to take a spectacular catch in Kami’s return spell.
Well-set batsman, Adair’s dismissal had brought the rapturous, contingent of Nepali supporters to their feet as Nepal were edging closure to victory, with equation slightly inclined towards Nepal. At that point, MMC still required 50 more runs of 27 balls with three wickets in hand.
MMC’s chase was jolted as none of their middle order batsmen managed to score double figures and spend time in the middle with Adair to build a momentum in their innings. They found tough to handle Nepal’s spinners and seamers as they exerted pressure from both the ends.
Clark (16) and Wilkinson (20) managed to score double digit.
Earlier, Nepal had won the toss and elected to bat first in the slow batting wicket at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Nepal posted a formidable total of 218 runs for victory to MMC in their first ever game at Cricket’s holy grail Lord’s.
Opening batsman Gyanendra Malla had top scored for Nepal with 39 runs off 63 deliveries with five 4’s that included elegant flicks and smashing drives.
Captain Paras Khadka hammered two 4’s and a towering six for his quick fire 30 off 28 balls. Wicket-keeper Raju Rijal and Basnata Regmi scored 24 runs apiece. Som Pal Kami chipped in with late cameo of 20 runs off 27 deliveries. Sagar Pun managed to score 26 off 61 deliveries. Sarad Vesawakar smashed 27 runs off 40 deliveries with five 4’s.
MMC’s captain KP Dutch claimed 2-36 and CA Barrot took 2-35.
Nepal is currently on their tour to England playing friendly games to give much needed practice to Nepali side for their upcoming fourth round matches of World Cricket League Championship against the Netherlands slated for August 13 and 15 at Aberdeen.
By Mausam Shah
 by 41 runs to record a triumph at historic Lord’s Cricket Ground of London in England on Tuesday.){kind=link}