Nepal vs Zimbabwe A 3rd Unofficial ODI Review: Kishore Mahato, Kushal Bhurtel seal the series for Nepal

Losing the first match of the unofficial three-match series, the hosts Nepal bounced back stronger to win the remaining two games and clinch the series against visitors Zimbabwe A. The toss was delayed due to a wet outfield and the game was reduced to 33 overs per side when it resumed.

Winning the toss, Nepal elected to chase at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Zimbabwe A had a fast start to their innings but they lost opener Innocent Kaia for a low score of 12(14) early in the fifth over. T Marumani (50 off 31) and Kudzai Maunze (39 off 34) steadied the innings after the early blow, but the former was the next to walk back to the pavilion after scoring a well-composed half-century.

Nepal bowlers kept scalping wickets at regular intervals and did not give the visitors any chance of scoring big, which helped them to break their momentum with the bat. Zimbabwe’s innings saw a downfall when Nepal’s Kishore Mahato scalped a five-wicket haul in his spell of seven overs as the visitors were dished out for 213 runs in 32.1 overs.

Kushal Bhurtel’s opening knock and Kishore Mahato’s fifer help Nepal seal the deal

Coming for the chase, the opening pair of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh gave a terrific start to their team. Zimbabwe got their first breakthrough early in the 13^th over when Brandon Mavuta dismissed Sheikh (29 off 37). Not too long after that the top-order batter Sunil Dhamala had to walk back after scoring six runs in 14 deliveries. When Dipendra Singh Airee joined Bhurtel, the latter had pretty much covered up for the two wickets.

Bhurtel had to make his way back to the pavillion shortly after that, but he managed to score a blistering knock of 84 (61). It was Singh who took charge of the game with an unbeaten for 60*(43) to lead his team towards a series victory.