Sandeep Lamichhane returned 4-35 to help Nepal beat Papua New Guinea by two wickets in the first ODI at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman. The Gyanendra Malla-led side has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series with the victory.
Lamichhane was ably assisted by Kushal Malla (7-1-19-2) and Bikram Sob (2-20). They wrapped PNG up for just 134 in 33 overs after the latter opted to bat. Coming to the chase, Nepal were left reeling on 82/7 at one point. But Rohit Paudel (41) and Sompal Kami (22*) shared a 54-run eighth-wicket stand to guide his side reach the target with 63 balls to spare.
In the morning, Sob removed Tony Ura and Assad Vala inside four overs. Lega Siaka (30) and Charles Amini (23) revived PNG from there, adding 50 for the third wicket before Lamichhane and Kushal Malla dismissed them in successive overs.
Sese Bau (14), Kiplin Doriga (15) and Gaudi Toka (22) failed to convert their starts into anything substantial, and they were bowled out with 17 overs to spare.
Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh got Nepal off to a steady start. They added 46 in 67 balls before Chad Soper (2-13) pinned Bhurtel leg before, and triggered a collapse. Gyanendra Malla, Aarif Sheikh, and Sharad Vesawkar all failed to reach double digits.
Nepal slipped from 46/0 to 82/7 before Paudel and Kami held the fort and took the game away from PNG.
The two sides will next meet on 10 September for the second and the final ODI, at the same venue.
Brief Scores: Papua New Guinea 134 in 33 overs (Lega Siaka 30; Sandeep Lamichhane 4-35) lost to Nepal 135/8 in 39.3 overs (Rohit Paudel 41; Gaudi Toka 3-18) by 2 wickets with 63 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane.