Kathmandu: Nepal secured a 33-run victory against Melbourne Renegades Academy (MRA) in its fifth match of the Top End T20 Series underway in the Northern Territory of Australia. This marks Nepal’s second consecutive win in the tournament. Opting to bat first after winning the toss at Darwin’s Cazalys Arena in Palmerston, Nepal posted a total of 139 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the 20 overs. In reply, MRA was bowled out for 106 runs in 20 overs.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Arjun Nair was the top scorer for MRA with 26 runs, followed by Jai Lemire with 18, and Harry Dixon with 16. In the bowling department, Nepal’s Sompal Kami was the standout performer, taking five wickets. Kushal Bhurtel and Rupesh Singh added to the bowling success by claiming two wickets each, while Dipendra Singh Airee and Shahab Alam took one wicket apiece.
On the batting front, Kushal Malla led Nepal’s charge with 29 runs off 22 balls, hitting one boundary and one six. Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 27 runs off 28 balls, while Lokesh Bam added 24 from 16 balls. Bhim Sarki chipped in with 17 runs, and both Arif Sheikh and Rupesh Singh made 12 runs each.
For MRA, bowlers Fergus O’Neill, Lachlan Bangs, Callum Stow, and Michael Archer each managed to take two wickets. Prior to this match, Nepal had played four games in the Series, securing one win and suffering three losses.