Nepal national cricket team showcased their prowess with two consecutive T20 practice match victories over Gloucestershire during their UK tour, gearing up for the upcoming Scotland Tri-Nation Series.
Match 1: Nepal Triumphs with a 73-Run Victory
In the first encounter, Nepal set a formidable target, amassing 181 runs. The bowlers then delivered a stellar performance, restricting Gloucestershire to a total of 108, resulting in a commanding 73-run win for Nepal.
Match 2: Asif Sheikh’s Unbeaten 84 Leads Nepal to a 5-Wicket Win
The second match witnessed a remarkable innings from opener Asif Sheikh, who remained unbeaten with 84 runs off 42 balls, including 13 fours and a six. Chasing a target of 169 set by Gloucestershire, Nepal achieved victory in just 14.2 overs, losing only five wickets. Contributions from Aarif Sheikh (30 runs), Anil Sah (18 runs), and Gulshan Jha (15 runs) bolstered the chase.
Gloucestershire’s innings featured notable performances from Darwish Ahmad, who scored 52 runs, and Tommy Boorman, who remained not out at 41.
Nepal’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Sompal Kami, who claimed three wickets for 38 runs in his four overs. Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi each took one wicket, effectively curbing Gloucestershire’s scoring momentum.
Looking Ahead: Scotland Tri-Nation Series
These victories serve as a significant morale boost for Nepal as they head into the 2025 Scotland Tri-Nation Series in June, where they will compete against Scotland and the Netherlands in both ODI and T20I formats.
The team’s performance in these warm-up matches underscores their readiness and determination to make a strong impact in the upcoming series.
