Chasing a target of 165, unbeaten knock of 60 of 34 balls by Shayan Jahangir was not enough to give the home team a winning start in the 3-match T20I series against Nepal at Grand Prairie, in Texas. Nepal won by 17 runs as the USA ended with 147 for seven in response to 164 for nine made by Nepal.
Dipendra Singh Airee turned out to be the chief architect of Nepal’s win with his grand all-round performance. He not only made 28 runs from 17 balls with the help of two boundaries and a six but also ended with impressive bowling figures of three for 27 wicket.
What a match! Airee and the team share moments of joy after claiming victory at the post-match ceremony! #NepalCricket | #NepalvsUSA | #OneBallBattle pic.twitter.com/USCQTyQtG8
— CAN (@CricketNep) October 18, 2024
Batting first, the visitors made a good start with Anil Shah (27) and Asif Sheikh (27) putting p 48 runs for the opening wicket partnership. Skipper Rohit Paudel took over from where the openers left and in partnership with Dipendra Singh Airee added 66 runs for the fifth wicket before a collapse in the death overs. Nepal ended with 164 for nine.
Rohit Paudel just missed his half-century as he hit four boundaries and a six in his 33-ball innings of 49. Saurabh Netrewalker (2/35), Jasdeep Singh (2/35), and Harmeet Singh (2/18) were the successful US bowlers.
Chasing a big total of 165 for a win, the home team had a disastrous start losing both its openers, including skipper M Patel, even before the score reached the double figures. Wicketkeeper-batsman Andries Gous (30) and Milind Kumar (22) steadied the home team’s innings before Shayan Jahangir and Jasdeep Singh put up 44 runs for the seventh wicket to raise hopes of a fightback.
A brilliant effort by #TeamUSA proven too short as Nepal win the 1st T20i by 17 runs.
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) October 18, 2024
USA hopes to bounce back even stronger in the 2nd T20i on October 19th #USAvNEP pic.twitter.com/2N6YPXmrM8
In the last over, the USA had a difficult task of scoring 31 runs. Dipendra Singh Airee removed Jasdeep Singh to pull the rug from below the feet of the home team. Shayan Jahangir, however, continued his lust for runs as he slammed the last ball of Dipendra Airee for a mighty six to remain unbeaten on 60 made from 34 balls with the help of four boundaries and two hits to the maximum.
The second match will be played on Oct. 19.
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