Anil-Bhim record partnership hand Nepal comprehensive win over Canada

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Feb 12, 2024

Debutant Hemant Dhami starred with the ball followed up by centuries from Anil Kumar Sah and Bhim Sharki helped Nepal to clean sweep the three-match One Day International Bilateral series against Canada with a facile victory at TU International Cricket Ground on Monday. They defeated the visitors by 9 wickets in the last match of the series.

After being asked to bat first, Canada batted a full 50 overs with 232 runs on board, losing 8 wickets. Nepal comprehensively chased it down with 9 wickets and 33 balls remaining.

Hemant stuck three wickets, giving away 49 runs in his first-ever 8 overs in the format. He sent back the opponent’s opener, Aaron Johnson (04) in his first spell and bagged two more in the death overs.

Kushal Malla returned the figures of 2-38 in his 10 overs. Lalit Rajbanshi (1-31) and Aakash Chand (1-51) chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Canada’s six batsmen scored twenty-plus but Navneet Dhaliwal could only reach his half-century, scoring 50 off 82 balls involving five boundaries. Skipper Saad Bin Zafar scored a quick-fire 15-ball 31 to help his side post a respectable total. He slammed three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten innings.

Nepal lost Kushal Bhurtel (13) early but Anil and Bhim stitched a record-breaking partnership to make the chase look easy. Their 189-run stand is the highest partnership for any wicket in Nepal’s six-year-long ODI history.

Anil, who was adjudged as player of the match, smashed 12 fours and 2 sixes for his unbeaten 112 off 124 balls. Bhim also joined the former and scored his maiden ODI hundred, taking 129 balls for his 101 runs leasing with 11 fours and a hit over the fence.

Dillon Heyliger (1-31) took the lone wicket for the losing side.