Nepal vs Zimbabwe A 2nd Unofficial ODI Review- Hosts stage a remarkable comeback with a nine wicket win

Nepal staged a remarkable comeback with an impressive nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe A in the second Unofficial One Day International that was played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on May 7. It was indeed a much-needed win for the hosts who lost the previous fixture by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller.

The Zimbabwe batters who had registered a hard-fought win a day earlier could not show any kind of resistance when it was their turn to bat first on the Kirtipur wicket as the Nepal bowlers made the most of the surface and eventually went on to deliver the knockout blow. Unfortunately for the visitors, they did not have any standout performers in this contest.

Karan KC and Sompal Kami decimate Zimbabwe A

The coin landed in the favor of Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane and he decided to bowl first. The decision was indeed spot on as the last game’s hero and Zimbabwe A’s match-winner Innocent Kaia was sent back for a golden duck. The other batters that followed hardly  staged a fightback as they were completely deceived by the Nepal bowling attack as the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Barring Cephas Zhuwao (10), Johnathan Campbell (27), and Brad Evans (20*) none of the other batters could even reach double figures, and even though Evans was going strong from one end, he ran out of partners at the other end as the Zimbabweans failed to cross the 100-run mark and were dismissed for a paltry 87 in the 37th over.

Karan KC and Sompal Kami were the pick of the bowlers for Nepal with figures of 3/17 and 3/16 respectively. In reply, the hosts got past the finish line without breaking a sweat as the duo of Sunil Dhamala and Aasif Sheikh added 79 runs for the opening stand. Even though Dhamala was dismissed for a run-a-ball 38, Nepal completed the formalities in just the 12th over with the other opener Shiekh being unbeaten on 34 runs from 31 deliveries.