Nepal Red edge Blue in thriller to remain unbeaten, Nepal Green slump to third straight loss

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Apr 30, 2025

Sandeep Lamichhane-led Nepal Red maintained their unbeaten run in The Core Camp with a thrilling one-wicket win over Nepal Blue at the Lower Mulpani International Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Nepal Green slipped to their third consecutive loss after a five-wicket defeat to Nepal Yellow at Upper Mulpani.

Nepal Blue opted to bat first and posted 208 in 47.4 overs. Openers Shakib Haque and Anil Sah gave them a solid start, adding 75 runs for the first wicket.

Shakib made 32 off 44 with six boundaries before falling LBW to Sandeep. Anil scored 41 off 61 balls but failed to convert the start.

Dev Khanal (36) and captain Rohit Paudel (35) put on a 45-run stand for the third wicket, but once Khanal was stumped by Arjun Saud, Nepal Blue lost their way, managing only 51 runs from their remaining batters.

Aakash Chand was the standout bowler with figures of 4 for 49 from his 9 overs. Sandeep and Shahab Alam picked up two wickets each, while Naren Bhatta chipped in with one.

Nepal Red chase started positively with a 64-run stand between openers Trit Raj Das (45) and Arjun Saud (36). However, a few quick wickets brought Nepal Blue back into the contest.

Bhim Sharki held the innings together with a composed 58 off 69 balls, including six boundaries. He now tops the run charts in The Core Camp with 184 runs in just two innings.

With 11 needed off the final over and just one wicket remaining, Sandeep Lamichhane struck a crucial boundary off the second delivery before Shahab Alam sealed the game with a two and a four.

Dipesh Kandel (3 for 46) and Yuvraj Khatri (3 for 27) shared six wickets for Nepal Blue, while Gulshan Jha and Surya Tamang took one each.

At Upper Mulpani, Nepal Green batting failed to deliver big. After being put in to bat first, they were bowled out for just 95 in 25.1 overs. Openers Arjun Kumal (30) and Asif Sheikh (20) were the only contributors of note, as the rest of the batting line-up collapsed.

Nepal Yellow medium pacers were clinical — Abinash Bohara picked up 3 for 11, Bishal Patel 3 for 31, while Kamal Singh Airee and Rupesh Singh chipped in with two wickets each.

Despite a scare at the top — Nepal Yellow were reduced to 18 for 4 — captain Dipendra Singh Airee led from the front, scoring a brisk 42 off 36 balls with eight boundaries. His innings helped Nepal Yellow complete the chase in just 17.5 overs, with five wickets to spare.

Sompal Kami took 3 for 51 in his nine overs, while Rijan Dhakal claimed 2 for 21 for Nepal Green.