Nepal’s pace spearhead Sompal Kami made a disappointing debut in the Global Twenty20 Canada for the Winnipeg Hawks at the CAA Centre in Brampton on Saturday.

Kami along with his national teammate Sandeep Lamichhane boarded for Canada from Singapore on July 29 after Nepal’s failed bid to reach the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Global Qualifiers the day before. While their teammates returned home after the Asia Qualifiers which saw the hosts Singapore earn a ticket to the Global Qualifiers, Kami and leg-spinner Lamichhane boarded for Canada to play the six-team franchise T20 league.

By the time Kami reached Canada on July 29, Hawks had already played three matches and the Nepali paceman was ignored for the fourth match the same day against Toronto Nationals, the team Lamichhane plays for. Lamichane too was ignored for the game.

Kami, however, got the break on Saturday but his team Hawks were soundly beaten by Edmonton Royals. Batting first, Hawks posted a commendable 195-6 in 20 overs. Edmonton made the total look pedestrain, overcoming the target for the loss of just two wickets in 17.4 overs.

Hong Kong international Anshuman Rath and Pakistani international Mohammad Hafeez were at their brutal best as Edmonton completed the chase with more than two overs to spare. The duo spared none of the Hawks bowlers including Kami, who went for 33 runs in his two overs. Rath scored 87 off 50 balls with nine fours and four sixes, while Hafeez made 30-ball 55 with three sixes and as many fours. Kaleem Sana and Dutch international Paul Van Meekeren took one wicket each for the Hawks.

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates international Sahiman Anwar and Chris Lynn of Australia laid the foundation for a big Hawks total. Anwar blitzed to a 35-ball 62 while Lynn scored 19-ball 33 with three fours and two sixes. The openers put on a 100-run stand for the first wicket. South African allrounder also scored 48, his 31-ball knock included three sixes and two fours. Shadab Khan took three and Ben Cutting claimed two wickets for Edmonton.

The result meant Hawks lie fourth in the standings with four points from five matches, while Edmonton still stay bottom of the table with the first win in five games.

Lamichhane also failed to inspire Toronto Nationals as they lost to table-toppers Brampton Wolves by 11 runs. The 19-year Nepali leg-spinner took one wicket but went for 44 runs in four overs as Brampton compiled a mammoth 222-6 in 20 overs.

Scottish international George Munsey blasted 66 off 36 balls with six fours and five sixes while Hong Kong international Babar Hayat—who have also played in Nepali T20 franchise cricket Everest Premier League and Dhangadi Premier League—clobbered 18-ball 48 with five sixes and two fours. Apart from Lamichhane, Jeremy Gordon, Moises Henriques and former Indian international Yuvraj Singh also took one wicket each for the Nationals.

In reply, skipper Singh blasted 22-ball 51 with five sixes and two boundaries but his team still felt short of the winning target. Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum also chipped in with 36 off 22 balls with four sixes and a four. The Nationals could only manage 211-7 in the end. Nawab Singh snared two while former Pakistani international Shahid Afridi and his national teammate Wahab Riaz among others took one wicket each. While Wolves lead the standing with maximum eight points from four matches, Nationals stay fifth with two points from four matches.

For Lamichhane the Global Twenty20 is not a big deal having played the franchise cricket across the globe including in the lucrative Indian Premier League and the Australia’s Big Bash. It is, however, a huge opportunity for Kami to showcase his talents at the global stage. The tournament offers Kami an invaluable experience of mingling with the likes of former and current international stars Singh, McCullum, Lynn, Kieron Pollar among others.