FILE: UAE’s wicketkeeper watches on as Nepali batsman Paras Khadka plays a shot during ODI series in Dubai. Courtesy: NatSportUAE
KATHMANDU: Despite young Sundeep Jora’s spirited unbeaten half-century, Nepal capitulated to 21 runs victory to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in the first T20 International fixture at the ICC Academy, in Dubai, today.
Nepal’s tour to the Gulf nation has brought records galore as Sundeep Jora has now become the youngest batsman to hit a T20 fifty on debut.
Earlier, Rohit Kumar Paudel had surpassed Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Indian great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of the youngest player ever to score an ODI half-century.
Nepal buoyed after winning a maiden ODI overseas series win, won the toss and opted to field first before restricting the hosts to a formidable total of 153/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
However, in reply, Nepal could not carry their bat where they had left in the last ODI and fell short by 21 run target in the opening fixture today. Nepal made a disastrous start as they lost opener Pradeep Singh Airee for a first ball golden duck in their innings.
In-form batsman Paras Khadka, promoted himself up the order, opened the innings and played some glorious drives before caught in deep by Sultan Ahmed off Zahoor Khan in 7.5 overs. Khadka made run a ball 25 runs with four hit to the fence.
After Khadka’s departure, Rohit Kumar Paudel trudged back to the pavilion. At one stage, Nepal were reeling at 56/5 inside 10 overs.
Nepal’s young promising middle-order batsman Sundeep Jora and Sompal Kami steadied the run chase after combing for 39 runs partnership for the seventh wicket.
In the last over Nepal still needed 26 runs to victory, however, they could muster only four runs before facing 21 runs defeat.
UAE’s Mohammad Naveed, Sultan Ahmed and Zahoor Khan took two wickets each.
Nepal will play two remaining fixtures against the hosts tomorrow and Sunday.
Meanwhile, International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed that Nepal’s young talented middle-order batsman Sundeep Jora has become the youngest man to score a T20 fifty at the age of 17 years, 103 days with 53 not out on debut.
Nepal’s Sundeep Jora has become the youngest man to score a T20I fifty at the age of 17 years, 103 days with 53* on debut, but it wasn’t enough to stop UAE claiming a 21-run victory in the 1st T20I in Dubai.#UAEvNEP scorecard
https://t.co/kds3bCLVqu pic.twitter.com/nekXry6lCF
— ICC (@ICC) January 31, 2019
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Written by Mausam
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/nepal-tour-of-uae-nepal-lose-by-21-runs-in-1st-t20-intl/ under the title “Nepal tour of UAE: Nepal lose by 21 runs in 1st T20 Intl”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
