Cricket fans at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Texas could not have asked for more as the home team batters stole the thunder and recorded an exciting three-wicket win over fancied Nepal with two balls to spare in a tall-scoring game.
Needing 286 to win, allrounder Shardyl van Schalkwyk plundered a six to long off on the fifth ball of the last over bowled by Sompal Kami to give the US a historic triumph, the first major win for the home team after its super run in the T20 World Cup in June this year.
Earlier opener Shayan Jahangir and skipper Monank Patel figured in a 161-run second-wicket partnership before allrounder Harmeet Singh took command of the game to make sure that the home team romps home victorious to the great cheers of Oct. 27 revellers. Shayan completed a superb century by making 104 from 97 balls with 12 boundaries and four hits to the maximum.
Oct. 27, revelers enjoyed every bit of this high-scoring game, which saw 13 hits to the maximum as both teams crossed past the 280 mark.
Put to bat first, Nepal started on an impressive note with openers – Anil Sah and Asif Shaikh – putting on 96 for the opening wicket partnership. Both completed their half-centuries in a game where their captain Rohit Paudal needing a boundary to complete his century was yorked by Saurabh Netravalker on the last ball of the Nepalese innings. Nepal made 286, a challenging total on a batter-friendly and even wicket.
USA sneak past Nepal in the final over at Grand Prairie Stadium #USAvNEP https://t.co/FNGJEIZLhD pic.twitter.com/Jzn4gOJcjY
— ICC (@ICC) October 28, 2024
Anil Sah made 56 from 62 balls with the help of five boundaries while his opening wicket partner contributed 52 from 53 balls with the help of seven boundaries and a six. After the openers left, skipper Rohit Paudal and Aasif Shaikh took command of the game and added 56 for the fourth wicket. Rohit hit eight boundaries and three sixes in his 75-ball innings. Aasif Shaikh, who went before Rohit, made 37 from 45 balls with the help of two fours and a six.
Nosthush Kenjige was the pick of the US bowlers as he ended with an impressive figure of four for 52. Saurabh claimed the 10th and last US wicket with the last ball of the innings. He finished with two for 63. Shadley (1/57), Jasdeep (1/69) and Harmeet Singh (1 for 46) were the other successful US bowlers.
Though skipper Monank Patel promoted Andries Gous in his place to open the innings, the move did not work. Andries returned to the pavilion with only four runs on the board. A second-wicket partnership between Monank and Shayan Jahangir enthused the local cricket fans as they not only kept on accelerating the run rate but also figured in a valuable 161-run second-wicket partnership.
After their partnership, it was the Harmeet and Shadley pair that put on 71 runs for the seventh wicket to bring the home team to the brink of a historic win. After Harmeet left, it was Jasdeep Singh, who hit a towering six and made 11 runs in the 49th over to make the score 282 for seven. Needing only five runs in the last over, Shadley made sure of the triumph with a massive six to the long off boundary on the fourth ball of the 50th over.
Nepal 286 in 50 overs (Anil Sah 56, Asif Shaikh 52, Rohit Paudel 96, Aasif Shaikh 37, Dipendra Airee 13, Nosthush Kenjige 4 for 52, Saurabh Netravalker 2 for 63, Shadley 1 for 57, Jasdeep Singh 1 for 69 and Harmeet Singh 1 for 46 lost to USA 291 for 7 in 49.4 overs ( Shayan Jahangir 104, Monank Patel 62, Harmeet Singh 57, Shadley 29 not out, Jasdeep Singh 11 not out, Sompal Kami 2 for 37 and Kushal Bhurtel 4 for 23) by three wickets and two balls to spare.
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