Aarif and Bipin propel Nepal ‘A’ to consolation win

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Apr 01, 2024

Aarif Sheikh and Bipin Khatri performed to ensure Nepal ‘A’ did not lose the third and final Twenty20 against the Ireland Wolves despite a late wobble on Monday at TU International Cricket Ground.

Nepal posted a mammoth 213-7 in 20 overs after being invited to bat first. In the chase, Ireland fought hard and reached 210-7 in 20 overs.

Nepal were reduced to 48-3 in the first PowerPlay. Aarif Sheikh and Basir Ahamed (19) added 47 runs for the fourth wicket. Aarif went on to stitch 40 more for the fifth wicket with Pawan Sarraf (13) and 46 with Rashid Khan. Rashid contributed 13-balls, including three sixes.

Kamal Singh Airee, who added an unbroken 46-run with Aarif, played a blistering cameo of 7-ball 19, comprising six and two boundaries.

Player-of-the-match Aarif top-scored with an unbeaten 93 off 48 balls, leasing seven fours and six maximums.

Fionn Hand picked up two wickets in the PowerPlay with figures of 2-41 in four overs.

Gareth Delany and Morgan Topping partnered for 129 runs and brought the visiting side closer to victory. They took 59 balls to do so for the fifth wicket.

Ireland were asked to score 56 off the last four overs with six wickets on hand. Rashid Khan (1-55) sent back Topping, while Kamal Singh Airee (1-49) got rid of Delany to do the job for the home side.

In the end, Fionn Hand’s firing 7-ball 22 showed some hope for Ireland. He struck two sixes and four.

Bipin Khatri returned exceptional figures of 3-23 in four overs.