Tri-nation International T20 series: PNG wins title
Kathmandu: Nepal faced a defeat against Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the final match of the Tri-nation International T20 Series held in Hong Kong. Nepal lost the match to PNG today at the Mission Road Cricket Ground in Mong Kok by a margin of 86 runs. Consequently, PNG secured the Series title, relegating Nepal to the second position.
In Tuesday’s match, Nepal emerged victorious against PNG, securing their place in the final. Prior to that encounter, a match between Nepal and Hong Kong was called off due to rain. In the subsequent match held yesterday, PNG defeated Hong Kong by 10 wickets, securing their spot in the final.
In today’s match, Nepal, chasing a target of 172 runs, was limited to 85 runs in 16.3 overs, losing all its wickets. None of Nepal’s batsmen performed significantly, with Sundeep Jora scoring the highest runs of 17, including three boundaries, in 13 balls. Aarif Sheikh contributed 15 runs, while Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel added 12. No other player managed to score in double digits.
Gulsan Jha and Lokesh Bam scored six runs each, Kushal Bhurtel scored five, Binod Bhandari managed four, and Karan KC scored three. In their effort to restrict Nepal to below 100, PNG’s Kabua Morea, Sese Bau, Chad Soper, and Semo Kame took two wickets each, while Alei Nao dismissed one Nepalese batsman.
For PNG, Tony Ura smashed beyond a half-century, scoring 61 runs with five boundaries and four sixes in 37 balls. Alei Nao remained unbeaten with 30 runs, while Hiri Hiri contributed 15, Hila Vare scored 18, Chad Soper made 13, and Kiplin Doriga added 14.
Towards Nepal’s bowling, Kushal Bhurtel and Akash Chand taking three wickets each, while Karan KC and Gulsan Jha claimed one wicket each.
