Nepal Crush USA by 9 Wickets in Dominant World Cup League 2 Match at Kirtipur
Kathmandu: Nepal produced one of their finest cricket performances after defeating the United States of America by 9 wickets in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League match at Kirtipur on Saturday. Chasing a target of 196 runs, Nepal reached 199 for 1 in just 36.4 overs and completed a massive victory with 80 balls remaining.
The home fans at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground celebrated a memorable win as Nepal completely controlled the match with both bat and ball. Opener Kushal Bhurtel played a brilliant century and guided Nepal to an easy victory in front of thousands of cheering supporters.
Kushal Bhurtel Shines With Match Winning Century
Kushal Bhurtel was the hero of the match for Nepal. The right handed batter scored an unbeaten 120 runs from 118 balls and played one of the best innings of his ODI career. His innings included 13 boundaries and 4 sixes.
Bhurtel looked confident from the beginning and attacked the American bowlers with excellent timing and placement. He rotated the strike well and punished every loose delivery. His batting gave Nepal full control during the chase.
The opener reached his century in style and continued batting aggressively until Nepal crossed the winning target. His performance received huge applause from the crowd in Kirtipur.
Kushal Bhurtel Batting Performance
| Player | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | 120 Not Out | 118 | 13 | 4 | 101.69 |
Strong Partnership Helped Nepal Cruise to Victory
Nepal lost only one wicket during the chase and never looked under pressure. The batting unit showed maturity and patience while chasing the moderate target of 196 runs.
After the first wicket fell at 145 runs, Nepal still remained comfortable because Kushal Bhurtel continued his attacking approach. Aasif Sheikh also made an important contribution with 58 runs from 72 balls and helped build a solid foundation for the victory.
Ishan Pandey remained unbeaten on 20 runs from 30 deliveries and stayed calm till the end. Nepal comfortably crossed the target in the 37th over and secured a famous win.
Nepal Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | 120 Not Out | 118 | 13 | 4 |
| Aasif Sheikh | 58 | 72 | 5 | 1 |
| Ishan Pandey | 20 Not Out | 30 | 1 | 0 |
USA Bowling Struggled Against Nepal Batters
The American bowlers failed to stop Nepal during the chase. Their bowling lacked consistency and they could not create pressure after the powerplay overs.
Nosthush Kenjige bowled 6.4 overs and conceded 39 runs without taking a wicket. Milind Kumar also struggled and gave away 31 runs in 5 overs.
The USA bowlers tried different strategies but Nepal batters remained in complete control throughout the innings.
USA Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nosthush Kenjige | 6.4 | 39 | 0 | 5.85 |
| Milind Kumar | 5 | 31 | 0 | 6.20 |
Nepal Bowlers Set Up the Victory Earlier
Before the successful chase, Nepal bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict the United States to 195 runs. The bowling attack maintained pressure in the middle overs and prevented the visitors from building large partnerships.
The fielding unit also supported the bowlers very well with energetic effort on the field. Nepal players saved important runs and kept the pressure on the American batting lineup.
The target of 196 runs looked achievable on the Kirtipur pitch and Nepal batters completed the job professionally.
Fans Celebrate Big Win in Kirtipur
The atmosphere at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground was full of excitement as Nepal moved closer to victory. Supporters waved national flags and cheered loudly for every boundary scored by Kushal Bhurtel.
The victory once again showed the growing strength of Nepal cricket and the passion of Nepali supporters. Fans celebrated the important result across the stadium after the winning runs were scored.
Important Result for Nepal Cricket
This dominant victory against the United States is another positive step for Nepal in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League competition. Winning by 9 wickets against a strong international side will increase the confidence of the Nepali squad.
The team management will also be happy with the balanced performance from both bowlers and batters. Kushal Bhurtel’s outstanding century and the disciplined bowling performance were the biggest highlights of the match.
Nepal supporters will now hope the national team can continue this excellent form in the upcoming international matches.
