Nepal successfully chased the moderate target of 142 runs losing only two wickets in 21.2 overs. Earlier Bahrain had scored 141 runs in 39.5 overs losing all the wickets. [break]
Akash Bista grabbed three wickets in his 7.5 overs conceding 14 runs with two medians. Kalicharan Yadav and Rupesh Bastola took two wickets each while Jagdish Chand grabbed a wicket. Two of the Bahrain batsmen were run out.
Anandha Krishna was the highest scorer for Bahrain with 28 runs off 57 balls. Akshay Bharadwaj scored 26 runs off 50 balls while Albin Mathew scored 23 runs off 45 balls. Nepali bowlers conceded 31 runs as extras.
In reply, Nepali openers Nurdhoj Sen and skipper Dipendra Chand put solid opening stand and shared 138-run partnership for the first wicket. Sen was the first batsman to get out. Sen scored 41 runs off 58 balls with six boundaries before Lalaith Lal bowled him out.
Man of the match Chand scored 75 runs off 69 balls with 12 boundaries. Akshay Bhardwaj took the wicket of Chand but Aadil Khan hit a winning boundary to seal the eight-wicket victory. Bahrain bowlers conceded 22 runs as extras.
Nepal will take on Iran at the Bayuemas Oval cricket ground on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Kushal Bhurtel, one of the reliable batsmen of Nepali squad, will return home after he broke his shoulder during the warm up prior the match against Bahrain. Bhurtel had dived during the fielding practice.
Bhurtel was taken to the Sanebe Medical Center. Manager of Nepali Squad Sandip Pandey confirmed his injury. Cricket Association of Nepal is all set to send Ajay Sahani to replace Bhurtel.
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