Rohit and Abinash power Nepal to series win in India

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Apr 07, 2024

Rohit Kumar Paudel hit a half-century and Abinash Bohora took three wickets as Nepal claimed a 18-run win over Gujarat to win the SMS Friendship Cup 2024 in Sai Meghpan SportsLife Ground. It was Nepal’s first-ever official series in India.

Electing to bat first, skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel led from the front with his 47-ball 74 to post a match-winning 176-4 in 20 overs. Rohit slammed five fours and four sixes.

Gujarat could only manage to respond with 158-8 in 20 overs. Umang Rohit Kumar top-scored for the losing side with his 40 off 28 balls. Aarya Desai contributed 36 off 24 balls.

Apart from Abinash’s three-wicket, Dipendra Singh Airee picked up two wickets while Karan KC and Kushal Malla chipped in with a wicket each.

Earlier, after losing the opener Kushal Bhurtel (21) within the PowerPlay, Rohit added 77 runs for the second wicket with Aasif Sheikh. Aasif scored run-a-ball 34. Kushal Malla provided Nepal with a blistering finish, scoring 13-ball 31.

Sen Patel, Tejas Patel, Jala Yuvraj Singh, and Jaymit Patel took a wicket apiece for the losing side.

Nepal made it into the final with three wins out of four group-stage matches. Nepal lost its final group-stage match against Baroda. On the other hand, Gujarat secured four points with two wins.

Nepal will travel to Oman for the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2024, starting from 12th April.