Nepali cricketers stun Bangladesh

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec 16: Nepal caused a major stir when they displayed yet another feisty all-round performance to self-shocked test playing Bangladesh by a narrow win of two wickets in the Super League stage of the on-going Khaleej Times U-15 Asian Cup on Monday.

Nepal, which went down fighting with the world's major cricket house India by 27 runs yesterday, opted to field, even after winning the toss. It restricted Test playing nation Bangladesh with 180 runs for 9 in limited 40 overs.Rajesh Shrestha giving 47 runs took three wickets while Bantu Bataju and Ifran Siddqui spelled a deadly blow to Bangladesh by taking two wickets each. Paras Khadka and Susan Shrestha also helped to fashion the fall by restricting the enemy by taking a wicket each.
Nepal, after having some early hiccups, hit 62 runs facing 78 balls with the help of Pawan Das before being run out. Sharad Vesawkar and Mahesh Chherti then fashioned the Nepalese win towards victory.

Chhetri and Vesawkar had contributed 25 and 22 runs respectively before heading towards the dressing room. However, after the fall of the two, Bantu Bataju steered the Nepal run rate as he slammed 22 runs on 22 balls while Diwas Thakuri and Ifran Siddiqui also helped to widen the Nepalese margin as they contributed 9 and 8 runs respectively before being out.Pawan Das was declared Man of the Match.