An all-round performance by Dipendra Singh Airee inspired Nepal to a 50-run victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) as they clinched Nepal Tri-Nation Twenty20 International Series on Monday.

Twenty-two-year-old Airee contributed an unbeaten half-century with the bat and claimed four wickets in bowling at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground in Kirtipur.

Put into bat first, Nepal posted 168-6 before bowling out PNG at 118 runs to wrap up the Series with a perfect record of five wins from as many matches played.

In the double round robin format group stage, Nepal had edged both PNG and Malaysia twice. The top two finishers at the end of the group round vied for the champions crown.

It was also the first title for captain Sandeep Lamichhane, who replaced Gyanendra Malla in December last year, and second T20I Tri-Series win since April last year. The Series featured Malaysia and the Netherlands, also played at TU ground.

“We were able to execute our game plan and it is a wonderful achievement. The credit for the success goes to all members of the squad who came up with a great team effort which made it possible to win all five matches of the Series,” said Lamichhane.

“All the players were in good shape. We are a young team so I request my teammates not to get scared during matches. Both the batting and bowling are improving every day,” he said, adding that he was delighted to win the Series.

Playing in front of a roaring home crowd, Nepal made a shaky start to their innings and were restricted to 5-82 at a moment before Airee lifted the innings. Airee, who came to bat at number four, contributed 38-ball 54 that included five fences.

KC, the second highest scorer for Nepal, played 12-ball 33 run blitz remaining not out. He and Airee put up an unbroken 54-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh were the other major contributors scoring 22-ball 25 and ball-a-run 29 respectively. Mohammad Aadil Alam also reached double figures scoring 15 runs while Aarif Sheikh and Dilip Nath were out for a duck each and Rohit Paudel for two runs.

PNG made the breakthrough in the fifth over after Bhurtel, who hit five boundaries, was caught by Lega Siaka off Kabua at square leg. Paudel was the next wicket to fall facing his third delivery in the sixth over at the square leg.

Nepal came under pressure in the 12th over as they lost three batters to medium pacer Semo Kamea. Opener Aasif was caught by Siaka in the first delivery of the over, his sibling Aarif in the third ball and wicket keeper batter Dilip Nath in the fifth ball. Alam hit a boundary and a maximum in his 13-ball knock before he was caught by Sese Bau off Chad Soper with 6-114 on board.

Kamea was the pick of the PNG bowling with three wickets under his belt. He conceded 28 runs in his four overs with a maiden over. Chad Soper, Kabua Morea and Riley Hekure picked one wicket each.

In the run chase, PNG kept losing wickets on quick intervals though middle order batter Bau contributed 59 runs off 38. He smashed a boundary and six maximums before he was caught by Abinash Bohara off pacer Karan KC.

Opener Charles Amini was the only other batter to reach double digit figures scoring 15 off 14.

KC removed opener Lega Siaka for eight runs in the third over after he was caught by Alam. Airee claimed three wickets in the fifth over as he trapped captain Vala leg before in the third delivery and Tony Ura, caught by Rohit Paudel, in the next ball with 3-25 on board.

Captain Sandeep Lamichhane removed Riley Hekure for six runs and Norman Vanua for a duck in two successive deliveries of the 13th over. Hekure was caught by Sompal Kami and Vanua by Aarif with 6-87 on board.

Soper was the next wicket to fall on one run before Nepal got the prized wicket of Bau who became the eighth PNG batter to be dismissed.

Airee, also the player-of-the-series and the man-of-the-match, was the pick of bowling with four wickets. He gave away 18 runs in his four-over spell. KC grabbed three wickets and Lamichhane two wickets. KC was declared the best bowler of the series for his 13 wicket haul in total.

PNG batter Tony Ura was named best batter for his 190 runs in five matches.

Airee first Nepali to reach 1,000 T20I runs for Nepal

All-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee became the first Nepali batter to reach 1,000 Twenty20 International run milestone after his unbeaten 54 runs against Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the final of Nepal Tri-Nation Series on Monday.

Nepal won the match by 50-runs to win the Series, maintaining a perfect record in the tournament.

Airee, also the player-of-the-series and man-of-the-final, added 255 runs in the five games of the Series to take his tally to 1,033 runs from 34 innings. The 22-year-old has also scored his maiden T20I century against Malaysia in the series scoring not out 110 runs. He also scored two half-centuries.

In achieving the feat he became the highest individual run scorer for Nepal in a single game eclipsing the 105-run record of former captain Paras Khadka.

Airee, who marked his T20I debut against the Netherlands at the Lord's in July 2018, reached his 1,000 run tally in the third ball of the 13th over hitting a single to Riley Hekure.