Visiting Nepal lost the second match against Kenya by 18 runs as the host levelled the five-match Twenty20 International Series 1-1 at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi on Friday.

Nepal were miserable with the bat and were bowled out for 114 runs in 19 overs in their chase after Kenya, invited to bat first, posted a moderate total of 132-9.

Nepal had won the first match by five wickets on Thursday.

Opener Pawan Sarraf, Rohit Paudel, Aarif Sheikh and Mohammad Aadil Alam were the only batters to reach double digit figures for Nepal who kept losing wickets in quick successions.

Sarraf contributed 19 off 26 that included three fences before being bowled by Vraj Patel. Paudel hit 20 off 25 comprising two fences as Patel made him caught by captain Shem Ngoche. Aarif, the highest scorer for Nepal, contributed 25 from 21 deliveries. He struck two fences and a six before he ran out. Alam collected 20 off 13 with a four and six each. He was bowled by Emmanuel Bundi.

Aasif Sheikh, who came to open the innings with Sarraf, was bowled out by Vraj Patel for five runs while former captain Gyanendra Malla was trapped leg before by Lucas Oluoch on one run with 2-16 on board.

Dipendra Singh Airee (3 runs), Karan KC (6 runs), captain Sandeep Lamichhane (7 runs) and Sompal Kami (2 runs) were out cheaply while T20I debutant Basir Ahamad remained unbeaten without opening score. He replaced Bivek Yadav in the starting lineup.

The home team bowlers Emmanuel Bundi, Lucas Oluoch and Vraj Patel grabbed two wickets each. Bundi gave away 27 runs in his four-over bowling and Oluoch conceded 23 runs bowling as many overs. Patel gave away 16 runs in his three-over spell.

Kenya made a shaky start to their run chase as they lost openers cheaply with 16-2 on board as medium pacer Karan KC removed Alex Obanda for a duck and Collins Obuya for nine runs. Obanda was caught by Aadil Ansari while Obuya was out for a hit wicket.

But Irfan Karim and Rakep Patel shared a 52-run stand for the third wicket. Wicketkeeper batter Karmi contributed 22 runs off 33 before being caught by Gyanendra Malla off Pawan Sarraf. Patel, the highest scorer of the match, cracked 35 runs facing 25 deliveries. He hit four fences and a six before captain Sandeep Lamichhane made him caught by former captain Malla.

Middle order Nehemiah Odhiambo was the other remarkable contributor scoring 29 off 20 that included four fences and a six. He was bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee. Sachin Bhudia scored 14 runs before being stumped by wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh in Airee’s delivery.

None of the other batters of the home team managed to touch double digit figures.

Nepal skipper Lamichhane and Airee grabbed three wickets apiece while KC grabbed two. Airee conceded 16 runs in his three over bowling while Lamichhane gave away 26 runs in his four over bowling.