United States vs Nepal – 1st T20I 2024: Nepal Triumphs in a Thrilling Encounter
The first T20 International (T20I) of the United States vs Nepal Twenty20 Series 2024, held on October 17th at Grand Prairie Stadium, USA, delivered a gripping cricket match with all the excitement fans could ask for. In a closely contested match, Nepal emerged victorious by 17 runs, setting the tone for the series.
Match Overview
- Date: October 17, 2024
- Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, USA
- Match: 1st T20I, United States v Nepal Twenty20 Series 2024
- Result: Nepal won by 17 runs
After being put in to bat, Nepal set a competitive target of 164/9 in their 20 overs, with key contributions from Anil Sah, Aasif Sheikh, and Rohit Paudel. The United States, in reply, managed to score 147/7, falling short by 17 runs, despite a strong fightback from their middle order.
Toss: The United States Elects to Bowl
The United States won the toss and opted to field first, hoping to capitalize on the early morning conditions. This decision seemed well-justified early on, as they kept picking up wickets regularly. However, Nepal’s middle-order resilience, particularly from captain Rohit Paudel and all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, allowed Nepal to post a challenging total of 164.
Nepal’s Innings – A Steady Yet Challenging Total
Nepal started their innings with openers Anil Sah and Aasif Sheikh, who gave their team a solid base by adding 48 runs for the first wicket. Sah, who scored a quick 27 off 18 balls, fell to Ali Khan, but his explosive start laid a good foundation for Nepal. Aasif Sheikh, playing a more composed role, scored 27 off 27 balls but was bowled by Harmeet Singh, halting Nepal’s momentum momentarily.
The real star of the Nepalese innings was their captain, Rohit Paudel. Paudel remained unbeaten on 49 from 33 balls, steering the team out of trouble after quick wickets. His crucial partnerships with Gulshan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee were pivotal in taking Nepal to a defendable total. Airee’s 28 from just 17 balls, coupled with some aggressive lower-order hitting, kept the scoreboard ticking.
Here’s a summary of the batting performance:
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Sah | 27 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 150 |
| Aasif Sheikh | 27 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 100 |
| Kushal Bhurtel | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 76.92 |
| Rohit Paudel (C) | 49* | 33 | 4 | 1 | 148.48 |
| Gulshan Jha | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 157.14 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 28 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 164.70 |
| Karan KC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aarif Sheikh | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sompal Kami | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Sagar Dhakal | 0* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The United States’ bowlers did a commendable job of keeping Nepal in check, with Harmeet Singh being the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for just 18 runs in his 4 overs. Jessy Singh and Saurabh Netravalkar also picked up 2 wickets each, but it was the economy rates that hurt the U.S., as a few overs went for more than 9 runs an over.
| Bowler | Overs | Wickets | Runs | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saurabh Netravalkar | 4 | 2 | 35 | 8.75 |
| Ali Khan | 4 | 1 | 31 | 7.75 |
| Nosthusha Kenjige | 4 | 1 | 36 | 9.00 |
| Jessy Singh | 4 | 2 | 35 | 8.75 |
| Harmeet Singh | 4 | 2 | 18 | 4.50 |
The United States’ Chase – A Hard-Fought Effort
Chasing 165 to win, the United States struggled to get off to a quick start. Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack restricted the openers, with captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous unable to find the boundaries early on. Monank Patel was dismissed for 19 off 23 balls, and Gous fell shortly after for 17 off 20 balls, both unable to capitalize on their starts.
The middle order, however, provided some hope. Aaron Jones played a fighting knock of 41 off 29 balls, stabilizing the innings. He was supported by Milind Kumar, who chipped in with 30 off 20 balls, but the increasing required run rate started to put immense pressure on the lower-order batters.
Despite some late hitting from Harmeet Singh, who smashed a quickfire 25 off 12 balls, the United States couldn’t keep up with the required rate. In the end, they finished their innings at 147/7, falling 17 runs short of Nepal’s total.
Nepal’s Bowling – Defending the Target
Nepal’s bowlers did an outstanding job defending their total. Dipendra Singh Airee, who was named Player of the Match, contributed not only with the bat but also with the ball, keeping the pressure on the U.S. batsmen throughout the innings.
Sompal Kami, Karan KC, and Sagar Dhakal were equally instrumental in maintaining tight lines and lengths, ensuring that the United States never got away with the chase. Though Aarif Sheikh went wicketless, his economical spell (0 for 23 in 4 overs) was critical in building pressure.
Here’s a summary of Nepal’s bowling performance:
| Bowler | Overs | Wickets | Runs | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sompal Kami | 4 | 1 | 29 | 7.25 |
| Karan KC | 4 | 1 | 28 | 7.00 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 4 | 0 | 23 | 5.75 |
| Sagar Dhakal | 4 | 1 | 30 | 7.50 |
| Aarif Sheikh | 4 | 0 | 23 | 5.75 |
Player of the Match – Dipendra Singh Airee
Dipendra Singh Airee’s all-round performance stood out as he played a crucial role in Nepal’s win. His quickfire 28 off 17 balls, along with an economical spell of 4-0-23-0, earned him the Player of the Match award.
Conclusion – A Perfect Start for Nepal
With this 17-run victory, Nepal takes a 1-0 lead in the series, setting themselves up for a strong campaign. The United States will need to regroup and address their middle-order batting concerns if they are to level the series in the next game.
Fans can look forward to more thrilling action as both teams continue to battle for supremacy in this exciting T20I series.
