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Faisal Akram holds nerves as Pakistan Shaheens clinch last-ball thriller against Nepal

DARWIN: Faisal Akram helped Pakistan Shaheens edge past Nepal by one run in the 30th fixture of the Top End T20 series here at Marrara Cricket Ground on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 144 runs, Nepal fell just one run short and could manage to score 143-7 in 20 overs.

With eight required in the last over, Faisal Akram held his nerves and ensured that Pakistan Shaheens ended on the winning side.

The drama unfolded in the last over with Nepal scoring four runs in the first two deliveries. However, wicket-keeper Ghazi Ghori displayed presence of mind and stumped Kushal Malla.

Akram bowled beautifully, and Aarif Sheikh could only manage to take a single on the second-last ball, with Nepal eventually requiring three runs of the last delivery.

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Under pressure, well-set batter, Dipendra Singh Airee, attempted an unconventional reverse shot, which went straight to the fielder, resulting in his run out and emphatic win for Pakistan Shaheens.

After losing an early wicket, Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel paired up to take them over the 50-run mark.

Sheikh departed after playing a measured knock off 27 runs from 30 balls. As a result, Nepal were 58-2 in 11.4 overs. However, Shaheens made a comeback with Gulsan Jha (3) run out in the very next over.

With Nepal losing quick wickets, Rohit Paudel remained firm and top-scored with 52 from 44 balls. His innings featured six boundaries and a four.

Despite the skipper’s removal, Nepal cruised in the chase until the 19th over with Dipendra Singh Airee keeping them in the hunt. Airee played a valiant knock off 41 from 21 balls, striking two fours and a maximum.

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For Pakistan Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim and Faisal Akram were the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets in their four overs.

Earlier, skipper of Pakistan Shaheens, Muhammad Irfan Khan, powered his team to a fighting total against Nepal with his 42 off 26 balls. Irfan’s knock included three fours and a six.

After deciding to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens mustered 144-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens could not capitalize on the decision as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

At one stage, the Shaheens were reeling at 74-7 in 12.3 overs until Muhammad Irfan and Mohammad Wasim’s partnership lifted them out of trouble.

Wasim made 23 from 22 balls with the aid of two fours and a maximum.

For Nepal, Sompal Kami took three wickets while Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav supported him well with two wickets each.

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Hassan Khan powers Kingsmen to victory; Renegades, Hurricanes cruise in Top End series

DARWIN: All-round Hassan Khan powered Chicago Kingsmen to victory, whereas Melbourne Renegades, Hobart Hurricanes, Northern Territory Strike, and ACT Comets also recorded wins here on Friday in the Top End T20 series.

Hassan Khan starred with bat and ball to guide the Kingsmen to a two-wicket win over Perth Scorchers Academy.

Chasing a target of 142, Chicago Kingsmen sealed the win on the first ball of the 19th over. Despite losing three for 47 at the end of the power play, Kingsmen ended on the winning side, thanks to measured knocks from captain Hammad Azam and Hassan Khan.

Azam remained unbeaten on 28 from 16 balls, hitting four boundaries, whereas Hassan made 22 off 11 deliveries with an equal number of fours.

For Perth Scorchers Academy, Teague Wyllie scored 67 off 50 balls, while Matthew Kelly managed to scalp three wickets.

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Hassan Khan was awarded the Player of the Match for his three wickets and vital contribution with the bat.

In another match, Northern Territory Strike (NTS) comprehensively defeated Nepal by 42 runs.

Put into bat first, NTS scored 177-8 in their allocated 20 overs with captain D’Arcy Short scoring 51 from 34 balls, laced with seven fours and a six.

For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets in his quota of four overs.

In reply, Nepal could only muster 135-8, with Kushal Malla remaining the top scorer. The left-hander made 34 from 26 balls.

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Matt Hammond was the standout bowler for NT Strike with three wickets to his name.

Earlier, Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades Academies won their matches in the second and third fixtures of the Top End Series, respectively.

Hurricanes comprehensively defeated the Australian Cricket Territory team by seven wickets.

The Hurricanes chased down the 162-run target on the second ball of the last over with Bradley Hope scoring 65 off 51 balls with the aid of two sixes and half a dozen boundaries.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Renegades edge out Melbourne Stars Academy by four runs in a thriller.

Chasing a 189-run target, Stars could not go over the line in the last over and could only manage to score 185-6.

Will Sutherland was pivotal with his all-round performance, scoring 63 off 34 and also taking two wickets in the match.

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ICC reveals host nation for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced that Nepal will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, scheduled from 12 January to 16 February 2026.

The global qualifier will feature ten teams vying for the remaining four spots at the tenth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026.

The main tournament will see 33 matches played across 24 days at seven iconic venues, including Old Trafford, Headingley, the Hampshire Bowl, and the Bristol County Ground. The final will be staged at Lord’s.

In the Nepal-based Qualifier, the ten teams will be divided into two groups of five, followed by a Super Six stage and a final.

The complete match schedule will be announced later.

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So far, Bangladesh and Ireland have secured their spots in the Qualifier based on their participation in the 2024 edition.

Nepal and Thailand advanced through the Asia regional pathway, while the USA qualified via the Americas.

Five more teams will be determined through upcoming regional qualifiers, two from Africa, two from Europe, and one from the East Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier, the ICC had confirmed the groupings and venues for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 main event:

Group A: Australia (defending champions), South Africa (2024 runners-up), India, Pakistan, and two Qualifier teams.
Group B: England (hosts), New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and two Qualifier teams.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for 30 June and 2 July at The Oval. The final will take place on 5 July at Lord’s.

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Scotland triumph over Nepal to seize top spot in tri-series

GLASGOW: George Munsey’s impressive 78, along with Chris Greaves’ three-wicket haul, led Scotland to a 34-run victory over Nepal in the final match of the T20 tri-series at Titwood on Friday.

The win helped Scotland top the group in a tri-series that also included the Netherlands and Nepal. The hosts emerged as the top team based on the net run rate. All three teams won two games, resulting in a tie with four points each; however, Scotland managed to pip ahead.

Nepal, while chasing a daunting 194-run target, crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 159 in 18.5 overs.

Nepal lost their top four wickets inside four overs, leaving them 40-4. However, a brief 42-run partnership between Dipendra Singh Airee and skipper Rohit Paudel provided them some respite.

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But Scotland struck in the 11th over, removing the captain who scored 27 off 20 balls with the aid of four boundaries. The wicket sparked a mini-collapse that Nepal was unable to recover from.

At one stage, Scotland reduced Nepal to 117-8 in 15.2 overs, but Rupesh Singh’s late onslaught helped them reach the 150-run mark. He top-scored with 43 off 22 balls, laced with three sixes and a four.

Ultimately, Nepal fell short of the target after being bowled out in the second last over.

For Scotland, Chris Greaves was the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his three overs.

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Earlier, after opting to bat, Scotland scored 193-5 in their allocated 20 overs. George Munsey and Mark Wyatt provided a rollicking start before the former was removed for nine runs.

Nonetheless, Munsey partnered with Brandon McMullen in a match-defining century stand. The duo’s batting brought the hosts’ score to 134 in just 12.4 overs.

Munsey top scored with 78 off 39 deliveries, smashing half a dozen sixes and five fours, while McMullen’s 42 off 30 balls included four boundaries and a six.

For Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel picked up two wickets while Sandeep Lamichhane, Rupesh Singh and Lalit Rajbanshi chipped in with two wickets.

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Tri-Series: Lamichhane stars as Nepal edge Scotland in low-scoring thriller

GLASGOW: Sandeep Lamichhane’s four-wicket haul helped Nepal beat Scotland by two wickets in a narrowly contested encounter in the third match of the tri-series here at Titwood on Tuesday.

Nepal chased down the meagre total of 98 runs on the fifth ball of the last over with two wickets to spare.

In pursuit of the target, Nepal lost their three wickets in the first seven overs, with the scorecard read 38-3.

However, opener Kushal Bhurtel stood firm until the 12th over despite wickets tumbling at the other end. He scored 30 off 35 balls with the help of four boundaries.

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With 35 required off the last seven overs, Scotland’s bowlers made a comeback, taking crucial middle-order wickets.

The match eventually reached the last over with Nepal requiring four of six balls with three wickets in hand.

However, Safyaan Sharif bowled well with three singles on the first three balls, hence taking a wicket as well on the next delivery to give Scotland some hope.

But incoming batter Sandeep Lamichhane kept his head calm and ran for a single to secure Nepal with their first win in the tri-series.

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Earlier, after being put into bat, Scotland were skittled for a meagre 97 runs in 19.4 overs.

The home team demonstrated a shambolic batting performance, losing half of their side inside the first five overs.

Nepal wreaked havoc with the new ball, first removing Mark Wyatt (1) and dangerous George Munsey (8). Liam Naylor was the next to go, after scoring just one, and Finlay McCreath followed him as he departed for two runs.

The only silver lining for Scotland was Michael Leask, who top-scored with a run-a-ball 46, laced with a six and four boundaries.

For Nepal, Player of the match Sandeep Lamichhane was the stand-out bowler, taking four wickets for just 11 runs in his quota of four overs, while Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Aireeb bagged two wickets each.

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Tri-Series: Netherlands edge past Nepal in epic third super over clash

GLASGOW: Netherlands edged past Nepal in a dramatic third super over thriller during the second match of the T20 tri-series here at Titwood on Monday.

The Netherlands held their nerve in the third super, taking two wickets as Nepal failed to set a decent score. Offspinner Zach Lion-Cachet claimed two wickets to end Nepal’s proceedings.

Michael Levitt came out and hit six on the first ball to give his team a thrilling victory. This marked the first time any men’s professional match, T20 or List A, had gone into a third Super Over.

Following the tie, Nepal set the Netherlands a target of 20 to win in the first super over, as Kushal Bhurtel smashed 18 runs, laced with two sixes and a four. However, the Netherlands managed to level the score, finishing with 19 runs as Max O’Dowd hit six and four off the final two balls.

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In the second super over, the Netherlands smashed two sixes in the first three balls but ended up scoring 17. In reply, Nepal’s Rohit Paudel struck the first ball for a maximum, and Dipendra Singh Airee hit a four as they required seven off the penultimate ball.

Airee smashed a six to take the game into the third super over for the first time in international cricket.

Earlier, chasing a target of 153 runs, Nepal needed 16 runs from the last over. The match ended in a tie as they scored 15 runs in the 20th over.

In pursuit of the target, Nepal had a poor start, losing their two wickets in only the second over.

However, Kushal Bhurtel looked good for his 34 off 23 balls, forging a quick-fire 43-run partnership with Rohit Paudel, which brought the score to 52 in 5.3 overs.

But wickets continued to tumble in the middle despite skipper Rohit Paudel’s 48 as Nepal were reduced to 137-8. With 16 required in the last over, Nandan Yadav took a couple of doubles before striking two fours, resulting in a tie.

Put in to bat first, the Netherlands scored 152 runs on the loss of seven wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

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The Netherlands had a decent score until the 11th over despite losing four wickets in the process; however, Nepal bowled well in the second half of the innings to restrict them to a competitive total.

Teja Nidamanuru top-scored with 35 off 37 balls, with the help of one six, while Saqib Zulfiqar smashed 25 off 12 deliveries with the aid of two sixes and a four.

For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane was the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his quota of four overs, while Nandan Yadav chipped in with two wickets.

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Pakistan qualify for Women’s Asia Cup 2024 as India crush Nepal

DAMBULLA: Pakistan women’s team on Tuesday, qualified for the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2024 semi-final, courtesy of India’s statement 82-run victory over Nepal.

Pakistan were second in the Group A standings of the eight-team tournament following their 10-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier today.

The Green Shirts had put one foot in the semi-finals with a thumping victory and wanted Nepal to lose their final group-stage fixture against former champions India.

However, even if Nepal had managed to beat India, they needed to win the match by a hefty margin to topple Pakistan’s net run rate but that was not the case in the end.

Opting to bat first, India registered a massive total of 178/3 with opening batter Shafali Verma leading the charge with a quickfire half-century.

Verma top-scored for India with a 48-ball 81 which featured 12 fours and a six.

She was also involved in a magnificent 122-run opening partnership with Dayalan Hemalatha, who contributed significantly with a 42-ball 47.

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Sita Rana Magar was the pick of the bowlers for Nepal, picking up two wickets for just 25 runs in her four overs.

In response, Nepal’s batting unit struggled against a Deepti Sharma-led India bowling attack and were restricted to 96/9 in the allotted overs.

Opening batter Sita Rana Magar remained the top-scorer for Nepal with a 22-ball 18, followed by Bindu Rawal (17), Rubina Chhetry (15) and Indu Barma (14) while the rest failed to make it into the double figures.

Deepti Sharma returned magnificent figures of 3/13 in her four overs while Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Former champions India topped the Group A standing of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 with six points in three matches, followed by Pakistan with four points in three matches.

India will face the second-placed side of Group B in the first semi-final while Pakistan will take on the group topper of the other group in the second semi-final.

Both knockout matches will be played here on Friday, June 26 while the final is scheduled for Sunday.

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Pakistan thump Nepal to register first victory in Women’s Asia Cup 2024

DAMBULLA: Gull Feroza played a quick-fire knock, supported by Muneeba Ali to help Pakistan register a thumping nine-wicket win against Nepal in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2024 here at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a modest target of 109 runs, Pakistan gave a dominant performance and successfully achieved the total in 11.5 overs after losing only one wicket.

Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali gave Pakistan a strong start, scoring 52 runs in the first six overs.

They continued the onslaught and by the halfway mark, Pakistan had reached 92 runs, with a one-sided victory in sight.

Feroze struck two more boundaries in the next over to push her team further closer to the target. However, she could not finish the match as she got out with only five needed to win. She scored a 35-ball 57 with the help of ten boundaries.

Muneeba Ali finished the match with a boundary, leading her side to a net run-rate-boosting victory after they lost to India in the first match. She scored 46 off 34 with eight boundaries.

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Nepal bowlers had a bad day at work as they conceded a boundary in every over. Kabita Joshi picked the solitary wicket for them.

Pakistan women’s captain Nida Dar invited Nepal to bat first earlier and her bowlers proved the decision right.

Fatima Sana removed Samjhana Khadka in the first over, while Sadia Iqbal dismissed Kabita Kunwar and Indu Barma to reduce Nepal to 30-3 in five overs.

Sita Rana Magar and Sita Rana Magar had no answers to Pakistan’s tight bowling as they scored 10 runs in the next 4.2 over before the latter got run-out. Magar also got run-out in the 14th over after scoring a scratchy 26 off 30.

Puja Mahato also played a cautious knock of 25 runs from 32 balls, while Kabita Joshi scored an unbeaten 31 off 23 with four boundaries and one six to push the team’s total to 108-6 in 20 overs.

For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal picked two wickets, while Fatima Sana bagged one.

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Tanzim Hasan Sakib sets unique T20 World Cup record against Nepal

KINGSTOWN: Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib set a unique record during his side’s 21-run victory over Nepal in a low-scoring ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash here at Arnos Vale Ground on Sunday.

Sakib played an important role in Bangladesh’s victory and earned the man of the match award for his brilliant bowling figures of 4-7.

During this fiery four-over spell, he bowled 21 dot balls, which is the most by any bowler in a T20 World Cup game.

The previous record for the most dot balls bowled in a T20 World Cup match was jointly held by seven bowlers, all of whom bowled 20 dot balls, including New Zealand’s Trent Boult and South Africa’s Ottneil Baartman in the ongoing edition.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib, while defending a modest total of 106, provided the breakthrough with the new ball, dismissing Kushal Bhurtel (4) and Anil Shah (0) in the third over with nine runs on the board.

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He added two more wickets to his tally, while Mustafizur Rahman also contributed with a wicket to reduce Nepal to 26-5 in seven overs.

Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee then knitted a cautious 52-run partnership to force Nepal’s comeback, however, Rahman removed Malla to break the partnership.

Malla top-scored for Nepal with a scratchy 27-run knock from 40 balls, which featured one four and one six.

Meanwhile, Airee scored 25 off 31 with the help of two boundaries and one six before falling prey to Rahman in the next over.

Shakib Al Hasan bowled the last over, taking two wickets in two balls to close Nepal’s innings at 85.

This victory propelled Bangladesh to become the second team from Group D to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament alongside South Africa.

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Bangladesh sink Nepal in low-scoring clash to reach T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8s

KINGSTOWN: Bangladesh pacers wreak havoc to help their team edge past Nepal by 21 runs in a low-scoring ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash here at Arnos Vale Ground on Sunday.

This victory propelled Bangladesh to become the second team from Group D to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament alongside South Africa.

Set to chase a modest target of 107, Nepal folded for 85 in 19.2 overs, courtesy of Bangladesh’s fiery pace bowling.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib once again provided the breakthrough with the new ball as he dismissed Kushal Bhurtel (4) and Anil Shah (0) in the third over with nine runs on the board.

The pacer added two more wickets to his tally, while Mustafizur Rahman also contributed with a wicket to reduce Nepal to 26-5 in seven overs.

Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee then knitted a cautious 52-run partnership to force Nepal’s comeback, however, Rahman removed Malla to break the partnership.

Malla top-scored for Nepal with a scratchy 27-run knock from 40 balls, which featured one four and one six.

Meanwhile, Airee scored 25 off 31 with the help of two boundaries and one six before falling prey to Rahman in the next over.

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Shakib Al Hasan bowled the last over, taking two wickets in two balls to close Nepal’s innings at 85.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib returned with brilliant bowling figures of 4-7, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed 3-7.

Earlier, Bangladesh were bundled out for a paltry 106 in 19.3 overs after being sent into bat.

Sompal Kami drew first blood as he caught and bowled Tanzid Hasan on the first ball of the match. Bangladesh soon slipped to 30-4 inside the powerplay with Kami taking two.

The experienced duo of Shakib Al Hasan (17) and Mahmudullah (13) stitched a 22-run partnership to get their team out of the trouble but a mix-up resulted in the latter’s run-out to leave Bangladesh reeling at 52-5.

Nepal bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals to deny any chance of a comeback, however, tailenders Rishad Hossain (13 off 7) and Taskin Ahmed (12* off 15) played cameos to carry Bangladesh’s total to 106.

Mustafizur Rahman (3) got run out in the final over to end Bangladesh’s innings.

For Nepal, Kami, Airee, Rohit Paudel and Sandeep Lamichhane picked two wickets each.

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