Nepal secured a thrilling victory over Canada by 24 runs at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Sunday. Former captain Rohit Paudel scored a century, leading his team to a vital win in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.
Canada, chasing a target of 236 runs, was bowled out for 211 in 48.4 overs, giving Nepal a six-point win.
With this win, Nepal climbed to sixth place, while Canada fell to seventh in the League 2 standings.
Rohit Paudel Shines with a Century
Paudel played a key role in the middle order, scoring 101 runs off 127 balls, including eight fours and a six. His innings helped Nepal post a competitive total after an early loss of wickets. This marked his third ODI century, reinforcing his position as a top batsman for Nepal.
Gulshan Jha added a quick 48 runs off 34 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. Arjun Kumal finished not out on 23, and Basir Ahamad contributed 30 runs. However, the lower order struggled to maintain the momentum, leading to an all-out finish in the final over.
Akhil Kumar took four wickets as Canada’s innings ended in the last over. Sukhjinder Singh claimed three wickets, while Zahid Shirzad took two.
Nepal’s Bowlers Maintain Pressure on Canada
In defending the target, Nepal’s bowlers consistently took wickets, keeping Canada under pressure. Aaron Johnson was the top scorer for Canada, remaining unbeaten on 44 off 49 balls, with six fours. Amit Gohel and Akhil Kumar contributed with unbeaten scores of 35 and 30, respectively.
Shreyas Movva and Hamza Tariq each added 26 runs, but it wasn’t enough for victory. Nepal’s bowlers shared the honors, with Karan KC and Lalit Rajbanshi each taking two wickets, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Nandan Yadav took one each.
Ultimately, Canada was bowled out for 211 in 48.4 overs, allowing Nepal to claim a six-point victory.
Nepal Climbs in League 2 Standings
With this win, Nepal recorded two important victories against Canada, moving up to sixth place with 26 points from 33 matches. Canada slipped to seventh, with 25 points from 34 matches.
Despite this win, Nepal’s chances of reaching the top four positions are over, as Oman had previously defeated Canada in the series. Nepal now aims to solidify their position in the League 2 standings and maintain their ODI status.
The top four teams in League 2 will qualify for the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, making this win a crucial boost for Nepal as they continue their campaign in Oman.