All-rounder Adil Ansari bowled brilliantly in the last over to tie the game between Nepal and the United States in the ICC World Cup League-2 triangular ODI series.
Chasing a victory target of 275 for victory, USA scored 274 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 50 overs. Adil Ansari spent five runs in the last six balls as the USA needed six runs to win. Both teams have shared one point each in the game.
The United States needed one run off the last two balls to win. In the fifth ball, Aaron Jones was returned to the pavilion by Rohit Poudel for 26 runs with an excellent catch. Rahul Jariwala was run out in the last ball and Nepal tied the game dramatically.
Steven Taylor of USA scored 114 runs off 123 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes. This is the first century of his international career. He is the fourth American to score a century in ODIs. This is the fifth century in the US ODIs.
Captain Monank Patel was dismissed for 85 off 115 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. For the second wicket, Patel and Taylor shared a 200-run stand to take the United States close to victory.
For the first wicket, Sushant Modani and Taylor shared 26 runs in 5.4 overs. Modani Sompal, who played a century against Oman, was cut and bowled out for 17 off Kami.
After that, Nepal took the second wicket in the third ball of the 42nd over. Captain Sandeep Lamichhane broke the double century partnership by catching Patel from wicketkeeper Binod Bhandari. Adil Ansari’s fifth in the 44th over. Taylor was caught out by Sandeep to play a big shot on the ball.
Adil Ansari, who made his ODI debut for Nepal, took 3 wickets for 45 runs in 9 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane and Sompal Kami took 1-1 wickets.
Earlier, after winning the toss at the Musa Cricket Stadium in Houston, Nepal were all out for 274 runs in 49.2 overs. Rohit Poudel of Nepal played the highest innings of 62 runs in 72 balls with 3 fours and 1 six.
Along with Rohit, Asif Sheikh scored 61 runs and Dev Khanal scored 54 runs. Rohit’s ODI is the fifth of his career and Dev and Asif have the same second half century.
Wicketkeeper and opener Asif Sheikh was caught for 61 off 70 balls with six boundaries. Asif completed it in 58 balls. Though not fully fit, Asif returned to the field with a leg injury and gave Nepal a good start with a crucial half-century.
Returning from injury, both openers Asif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel shared 56 runs in 11.5 overs to give Nepal a good start. Opener Kushal Bhurtel, who returned from a groin injury, was bowled out for 19 off 36 balls. Nisarg Patel’s ball was bowled when he missed the tune of playing efficient sweep shot. Dev Khanal and Asif shared 62 runs for the second wicket.
Dev Khanal was caught for 54 off 69 balls with three boundaries. This is the second half century of Dev’s ODI career. Dev struck a half-century off 64 balls. Dev and Rohit shared 60 runs for the third wicket. Rohit and Adil Ansari shared 65 runs for the fourth wicket.
Adil was dismissed for 36 off 24 balls with three fours and two sixes. Arif Sheikh was out for 8 and Dipendra Singh Airy for 1. Sandeep Lamichhane was out for 10 runs. At one point in 23 overs, 235-3 in a strong position to show the possibility of a total of 300 runs, but lost 7 wickets to add 39 runs was a huge total.
Rusty Theron of USA took 4 wickets for 56 runs in 9.2 overs. Saurabh Netrawalkar took 2 wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs. Ali Khan took 2 wickets for 62 runs in 10 overs. Nisarg Patel and Yasir Mohammad took 1 wicket each.
