Nepal’s Spin Attack Bowls Saudi Arabia Out for 190

Nepal’s spinners dismantled Saudi Arabia’s middle and lower order to bowl the team out for 190 in 49.2 overs in their ACC Premier Cup match at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

Saudi Arabia won the toss and chose to bat, but captain Waji Ul Hassan fell for a duck in the second over to Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi. Abdul Waheed and Muhammad Atif then steadied the innings with a 94-run partnership for the second wicket.

Waheed led the recovery with 77 from 89 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. Atif made 30 from 68 balls before Gulshan Kumar Jha dismissed him in the 23rd over. Waheed continued until the 30th over, when Rajbanshi trapped him leg before wicket.

His dismissal sparked a collapse. Saudi Arabia fell from 112-2 to 166-9 as Nepal’s spin attack struck repeatedly. Mohammed Hisham Shaikh made 28, while Zainul Abidin scored 12. Ishtiaq Ahmad and Muhammad Saqib added 24 for the last wicket, lifting the total to 190 before Airee dismissed Saqib in the final over. Ishtiaq finished unbeaten on 10.

Lamichhane took three wickets for 19 runs in 10 overs, including two maidens. Airee took three for 43 in 9.2 overs, and Rajbanshi claimed two for 26. Nepal had strengthened its spin attack by replacing fast bowler Hemant Dhami with Sher Malla, and its spinners took nine of Saudi Arabia’s 10 wickets.

Nepal entered the match after defeating Bahrain by seven wickets and Malaysia by six. A win would secure a semi-final place, while Saudi Arabia had won one and lost two of its first three matches.