Rohit Paudel (86 in 123 balls) and Sandeep Lamichhane (5.1-0-11-6) starred for Nepal twice in three days as they beat Papua New Guinea by 150 runs in the second and final ODI at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman.
Paudel and Lamichhane had chipped in with useful contributions in the series opener as well, to help Nepal clinch a two-wicket victory. They continued their form to complete a 2-0 sweep.
Nepal did not have the best of starts. They lost Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh inside four overs after opting to bat. Gyanendra Malla (45) and Paudel steadied the ship from there, adding 89 for the third wicket. In the 25th over, Chad Soper gave PNG the much-needed breakthrough when he pinned Malla leg before.
Nepal, 139/3 at one point, slipped to 166/6 in no time as Paudel received little support from the middle order after Malla’s departure. Coming at No. 8, Karan K.C. then got a 26-ball 42 at the late stage to help his side reach to a respectable total of 233.
With 3-45, Soper was the pick of the PNG bowlers, while Kabua Morea and Norman Vanua picked up two wickets each.
PNG’s batting display has been awful on the tour. They have been bowled out thrice (once against Nepal, twice against the United States of America). The fourth attempt was the worst, as they were skittled out for just 82 in 19.2 overs. Tony Ura top-scored with 19.
Lamichhane did the most damage for Nepal, while Bikram Sob (1-13) bowled tightly inside the Powerplay for his only wicket.
Brief Scores: Nepal 233 in 49.3 overs (Rohit Paudel 86; Chad Soper 3-45) beat Papua New Guinea 82 in 19.2 overs (Tony Ura 19; Sandeep Lamichhane 6-11). Player of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane.
Nepal won the series 2-0.