SATV,Aug 19 Kathmandu : Nepal endured their third consecutive loss in the Top End T20 Series in Australia, falling to Melbourne Stars Academy by 31 runs in Darwin on Monday. Chasing a target of 176, Nepal were restricted to 144 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Opener Kushal Bhurtel gave Nepal a flying start, scoring 25 off 13 balls with four boundaries. He shared a 30-run opening stand with Aasif Sheikh. Bhim Sharki departed soon after for just 1 run, leaving Nepal at 32 for 2.
Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel steadied the innings with a solid 87-run partnership for the third wicket.
Aasif reached his half-century with a composed 53 off 48 balls, including three fours and a six. Rohit added 33 off 31 balls, hitting three boundaries before falling in the 16th over.
After Aasif was run out in the 17th over with the score at 120 for 4, Nepal’s middle order collapsed. Star all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed for 1, Kushal Malla made a run-a-ball 11, and Arif Sheikh remained unbeaten on 8. Gulshan Jha fell for 2, and Nepal finished on 144 for 7.
Melbourne Stars’ bowlers Austin Anlezark and Doug Warren took two wickets each. Aryan Sharma and Christian Howe claimed one apiece.
Earlier, Melbourne Stars elected to bat first after winning the toss and posted 175 for 7 in their 20 overs. Sompal Kami struck early, removing captain Campbell Kellaway for 2 in the opening over. However, the innings was revived by a century stand between Thomas Rogers and Blake Macdonald.
Rogers scored 65 off 46 balls, while Macdonald top-scored with a fluent 74 off 47 deliveries, hitting seven fours and two sixes. Rogers also hit seven boundaries and one six. Sam Harper remained unbeaten on 11.
Sandeep Lamichhane was Nepal’s standout bowler, taking 3 for 26 in his four-over spell. Sompal Kami and Shahab Alam picked up one wicket each.
This defeat marks Nepal’s third in the series, following earlier losses to Northern Territory Strike and Bangladesh ‘A’. They will next face Hobart Hurricanes Academy on Tuesday.
Nepal currently sit 10th in the 11-team league. Australian Capital Territory are at the bottom of the table, also winless after three matches. Northern Territory, Pakistan Shaheens, and Chicago Kingsmen occupy the top three spots.
