Skipper Gyanendra Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee both scored half-centuries as Nepal defeated Kenya by seven wickets in their ICC World Cricket League Championship match at TU cricket ground in Kirtipur.

Chasing a target of 156 for victory, a quick-fire 24 from 11 balls by Sharad Bheswakar ensured victory for the Nepali side with 118 balls to spare.

It was a solid performance by Malla, standing in as captain for injured Paras Khadka, and Airee, who both came at the crease at difficult period of the run chase, batted brilliantly to stitch a 111-run partnership and ensured a comfortable victory at the end. Malla smashed one six and eight boundaries for his 93-ball 64 while Airee played with more attacking flair to score 62 from 66 balls.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Nepali bowlers started brightly especially by Mahaboob Alam who bowled 32 dot balls spanning over five consecutive overs and claimed two early wickets. Collins Obuya missed on a half-century by two runs when he was stumped by Binod Bhandari off Sandip Lamichhane's delivery. When opener Irfan Karim was caught on 38, spinner further sealed runs scoring chances putting pressure on the batsmen and prompting them to hit big. This pressure triggered a collapse and the opportunity was milked by Sharad Bheswakar whose spin attack earned him four wickets towards the end.

Nepali spinners shared eight wickets between them with Basanta Regmi claiming two and Sagar Pun and Sandip Lamichhane taking one each.

In the run chase, Elijah Otieno's two wickets of Sunil Dhamala and Sagar Pun inside the fourth over reduced Nepal to 14 for two and looked like the guests would continue on their unbeaten three-match run against the host nation. But, clearly, they were unknown about what Malla and Airee were about to script for Nepal.

Both the batsmen had few nervy moments before finally settling up. Both rode on their luck edging deliveries from the Kenyan quicks and had the second slip been placed, it might well have ended early for both of them.

But as the game wore on, backed by a huge and enthusiastic crowd present in the ground, they started to find their feet and more importantly gaps to hit boundaries and built a partnership that costed Nepal a victory in their first game against the African country. Malla was patient and took 78 balls for his fifty while his partner Airee played a more attacking game for 49-ball 50.

Crowd cheered on and desperately wanted the Malla-Airee pair to get the team home. But it was not to be when Airee smashed one straight to a waiting Dhiren Gondoria to catch from Collins Obuya's delivery. In came Sharad Bheswakar and immediately started from where Airee left and hammered all around the ground for hurried 11-ball 24 to guide the team beyond the target, much to the delight of the crowd who jumped on their feet and celebrated wildly after Bheswakar hammered the second ball of 31st over for six.