Sports
Twenty20 World Cup for blind: Nepal stun South Africa by six wickets
Nepal posted their first victory in the current Twenty20 World Cup for the Blind defeating South Africa by six wickets in their third match in Delhi Dwarka DDA, India, on Thursday.Nepal posted their first victory in the current Twenty20 World Cup for the Blind defeating South Africa by six wickets in their third match in Delhi Dwarka DDA, India, on Thursday.
Electing to field first, Nepal restricted South Africa to 146-5 in 20 overs before replying with 149-4 in 17.3. It was Nepal’s second victory against Test playing nation having defeated Bangladesh in the 2012 edition by nine wickets, also in India. Nepal are the only Test team to compete in the Twenty20 World Cup for the Blind.
Nepal had lost their first two matches against Australia (by 10 wickets) and Bangladesh (by 59) runs with huge defeats and on Thursday they sniffed victory restricting South Africa to a below-par total. Openers Ramesh Bahadur Baniya and Sunil Rana Magar then set the foundation with a 69-run opening wicket partnership.
Nepal lost both the set batsmen in a space of 17 runs but No 3 Sunil Subedi Chhetri insured his side posts first ever win over South Africa involving in modest partnerships thereafter. Chhetri was unbeaten on 46 off 33 balls. Rana Magar made 38 off 35 and Baniya scored 24 off 28 with both batsmen hitting a boundary each.
Earlier, Rana Magar also starred with the ball picking up two quick wickets as South Africa were reduced to 12-2 in 2.1 overs. Opener Dominic Scott Adriaans and Sonwabile Bidla then shared 57 runs for the third wicket to consolidate the innings.
Adriaans made 33 off 34 with two boundaries and after his departure Bidla got involved in another big partnership of 70 runs for the fourth wicket with Buhle Bidla to take his side close to 150-run mark. Budle made 32 off 25 with two hits to the fence.
Bidla top scored in the match with 57 off 59, his innings consisting of two boundaries. Nepal will play their fourth match against West Indies on Friday and will also meet India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand in the round robin league. The top four teams will make it to the semi-finals.
Ghimire elected vice-president
KATHMANDU: Cricket Association of Blind (CAB), Nepal President Pawan Ghimire was elected the vice-president of World Blind Cricket Limited (WBCL). Ghimire was elected to the post for two years after January 31 election of the WBCL, informed CAB Nepal on Thursday. India’s Mahentesh GK was elected the president. (PR)