By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – Nepal Men’s Cricket Team have lifted the title of the SMS Friendship Cup triangular T20 series in Gujarat. Nepal defeated the home side Gujarat by 18 runs in the final to successfully end the final outing before the ACC Premier Cup in Oman.
Nepal restricted the home side to 158/8 in 20 overs while chasing the target of 177 runs in 20 overs. Abinash Bohora bowled four overs to take three wickets for Nepal while giving just 26 runs in the process. Karan KC and Kushal Malla took one wicket each while Dipendra Singh Airee remained wicketless while conceding just 13 runs in his four overs.
Gujarat skipper Umang Rohitkumar scored 40 off 28 and remained the top scorer for his side. Aarya Dessai chipped in with 36 runs while opener Rudra Patel scored 17 runs.
Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, Nepal posted 176 runs at the loss of just four wickets in 20 overs. Skipper Rohit Paudel top-scored for Nepal with a 47-ball 74. Opener Aasif Sheikh played a run-a-ball 34 while Kushal Malla remained unbeaten on a quick-fire 13-ball 31. Kushal Bhurtel played a steady innings of 19 runs in 21 deliveries.
Shen Patel, Tejas Patel, Saral Prajapati and Jaymeet Patel took one wicket each for Gujarat.
Nepal had defeated Gujarat twice in the league stage while winning one and losing one against Baroda. The team will fly to Oman directly from India for the Premier Cup and will be pitted against Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar and Hong Kong in their group.
