Nepal's fifth consecutive win in World Cup Cricket League-2, PNG defeated by 4 wickets

Nepal has won five matches in a row in ICC World Cup Cricket League-2. Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 4 wickets on Monday while making a record by winning five consecutive one-day international matches.

Earlier, in the first week of February, Nepal won consecutively in all four matches played against Scotland and Namibia at home.

Nepal completed the target of 204 runs with the loss of 6 wickets in 45.2 overs while winning over PNG at the Dubai International Cricket Ground on Monday.

Opener Kushal Bhurtel scored a half-century for Nepal. He hit 5 fours off 69 balls while scoring 56 runs.

Another opener Asif Shaikh was run out while scoring 44 off 39 balls. Asif and Kushal shared a partnership of 76 runs in 14.5 overs for the first wicket.

When Gyanendra Malla was out for 4 runs, captain Rohit Kumar Poudel added 20 runs in 21 balls. Arif Shaikh's 33 runs off 62 balls proved to be the key. Arif hit 1 four and 1 six.

Dipendra Singh Airi was bowled by Sese Bau when he scored 22 runs. Kushal Malla added 12 runs not out and Sompal Kami added 5 runs not out. In bowling, Asad Bhala of PNG took 3 wickets.

After Nepal won the toss and chose to field, PNG, who batted first, added 203 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 50 overs. Chad Soper scored 36 not out for PNG. He hit 2 fours in 53 balls.

Captain Asad Bhala scored 36 runs off 53 balls. He was dismissed by Kushal Malla who hit 4 fours. Wicketkeeper batsman Kiplin Doriga scored 29 runs and Sese Bau scored 31 runs.

Norman Vanua who hit 2-2 fours and a six off 15 balls scored 25 runs. After hitting a six and a four in the opening two balls of the 49 overs, he was caught by Kushal Malla from Dipendra Singh Airi. Gulshan Jha of Nepal took 3 wickets in bowling. He spent 28 runs in 9 overs.

While Kushal Malla took 2 wickets, debutant Pratish Ji took 1 wicket. Karan KC and Sompal Kami managed to take 1 wicket each.

The triangular ODI series between Nepal, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and UAE has started in UAE from today.

The top three teams of League-2 will qualify for the World Cup. The bottom four teams will have to play the qualifier playoffs. Similarly, the ODI status of the top five teams will be preserved.

Score table

Scotland, who became champions in League-2, scored 50 points from all 36 matches, while Oman, who came second, has 44 points. Scotland and Oman have qualified for the World Cup.

Third-placed Namibia has 39 points from 36 matches, while fourth-placed USA has 35 points from the same matches. UAE is fifth with 29 points from 28 matches.

Sixth ranked Nepal has won 28 points from 29 matches today. Bottom PNG has 5 points from 29 matches. Now Nepal will have to win 6 matches to be in the top three and 4 matches to save the ODI status. The final series between Nepal, UAE and PNG will be held in Nepal in the last week of February.