Openers Digam Chemjong Limbu and Nabin Rai starred with half centuries as Nepal defeated Bangladesh by 54 runs to win the first International Wheelchair Twenty20 cricket tournament on Saturday. 

Bangladesh’s decision to field first at the Tribhuvan University Stadium backfired as Nepal piled up a mammoth 160-6 from 20 overs. Bipin Paudyal then picked up three wickets as Bangladesh were sent packing for just 106 runs in 18.2 overs. The tournament, organised by Wheelchair Cricket Association as a tri-series that also involved India, Nepal, was first of its kind in Nepal.

Limbu and Rai’s dominant batting display was the toast of the day as the pair put on 149 runs for the first wicket to lead Nepal to a winning total. Limbu remained unbeaten in his 62-ball knock hammering 10 boundaries for 79 runs. Nabin scored 59 from 52 with eight hits to the fence and was dismissed in the last ball of the 18th over. 

Bangladesh had some solace after Ripon Uddin removed Dan Bahadur Thing (duck) and Jung Bahadur Thapa (four) in the 19th over. Paudyal was unbeaten on one when Nepali innings came to an end. 

Paudyal rocked Bangladeshi chase picking up the wickets of their opener Mohammad Methu (six) and Mohammad Mohsin (naught) in the third over. Nepal then affected three run outs including the dismissal of Bangladesh’ top scorer Morshed Alam reducing them to 56-5 in 11.1 overs. 

Uzzal Bairagi and Rajon Hossain (11) offered a brief resistance sharing 35 runs for the sixth wicket. But they went on to lose their last five wickets for just 15 runs once Ram Bahadur Tamang bowled Hossain. 

Bairagi (17) and Uddin (13) were remaining Bangladesh batsmen to make runs in double figures. Skipper Himal Aryal and Bishnu Adhikari also took a wicket each for Nepal.

Limbu was adjudged the man-of-the-final and walked away with man-of-the-series award. Nepal also dominated the final match presentation ceremony after Rai was declared the best bowler, Paudyal the best bowler and Raju Gurung won the best wicketkeeper award.