Nepal’s Spinners Bowl Saudi Arabia Out for 190

Saudi Arabia reached 190 before Nepal’s spinners dismantled their middle and lower order in the ACC Premier Cup at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

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

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

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

Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets for 19 runs in 10 overs, including two maidens. Dipendra Singh Airee also claimed three wickets, while Rajbanshi took two. Nepal had brought Sher Malla into the side for fast bowler Hemant Dhami, and the spinners responded by taking nine of Saudi Arabia’s 10 wickets. Nepal had already beaten Bahrain and Malaysia, while Saudi Arabia had one win and two losses.