Lower middle-order crumble as Nepal ‘A’ concede series win to Ireland Wolves

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Mar 30, 2024

Captain Neil Rock fired with the bat as Ireland Wolves beat Nepal ‘A’ by 40-run on Saturday at TU International Cricket Ground to win the three-match Twenty20 Series with a match remaining.

Rock’s 34-ball 71 secured Ireland Wolves’ triumph as the tourists presented 224-6 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Rock struck seven sixes and four in his unbeaten innings.

Despite scoring over 12 runs per over till the halfway stage, Nepal kept losing wickets and bundled out on 184 runs in 17.5 overs and conceded the series.

Sagar Dhakal drew James McCollum into a false shot for a stumping by Binod Bhandari on 26 off 13 balls to pick up the first wicket for Nepal. Sagar Went on to dismiss Ross Adair (17) and Stephen Doheny (four) to reduce the opponent to 66-4 in 9 overs. He returned the figures of 3-33 in his four overs.

Rock added 61 off 25 balls with Peter Moor to take his side to 126-5 till the 13th over. Moor scored 65 runs from 26 deliveries hitting seven sixes and three fours.

The skipper carried forward his innings and stitched an unbroken 66-run stand with Fionn Hand to provide his side the perfect finish. Hand played the 19 runs cameo with two sixes in 11 balls.

Nepal started the chase promisingly with the score reading 87-1 inside the PowerPlay. Dev Khanal led the charge with his 47 off 25 balls leasing with seven boundaries. Binod introduced himself to the crease with two consecutive sixes, finishing on 13-ball 26.

Lokesh Bam slammed three boundaries and two sixes for his 25 off 13 balls. Nepal were strongly approaching the chase with 124-4 in 10 overs, needling only another 101 runs in the next 10.

Matthew Foster removed Aarif Sheikh for 14 to expose the less-experienced lower-middle order.

Ben White picked the maximum three wickets for the winning side, giving away 29 runs in his four overs.