Nepal failed to chase a meagre target and succumbed to a seven-run defeat against hosts Kenya as the five-match T20 International Series got tied 2-2 in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday.

Kenya elected to bat first and were bowled out for 101 runs in the last ball of the innings at the Gymkhana Club Ground. Chasing the target, Nepal came up with a miserable batting performance before being restricted at 94-9.

The fifth match to be played on Tuesday will be decisive in determining the fate of the Series winners. Nepal had won the first and third match of the Series on Thursday and Sunday while the home team were winners of the second match played on Friday.

“I feel disappointed with the way we batted,” said Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane at the presentation ceremony. “We should have chased the target easily.”

None of the batters of the visiting side other than Rohit Paudel, who scored 47 runs, managed to touch double digit figures in the chase. Coming to bat at number four, Paudel was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the innings. He hit two fences and sixes each before being bowled by Rakep Patel.

Nepal made a shaky start to their innings and were left tottering at 3-13. Opener Pawal Saffar was out in the very first delivery of the innings before former captain Gyanendra Malla was dismissed for six runs in the last delivery of the third over.

Other opener Arjun Saud was the next batter to depart in the following delivery. Though Paudel prolonged Nepal’s hope for win, he failed to get ample support from the other end as wicket kept on falling in quick successions.

Dipendra Singh Airee was (6 runs), Aarif Sheik (2 runs), Sompal Kami (0), Mohammad Aadil Alam (8 runs) and Karan KC (5 runs) were dismissed cheaply while skipper Sandeep Lamichhane (4 runs) and Shahab Alam (0) remained unbeaten.

Rakep Patel was the pick of Kenya bowling claiming three wickets in his four over spell. He gave away 19 runs. Elijah Otieno, Shem Ngoche and Vraj Patel pocketed two wickets each.

Batting first, the home team’s lower middle order batter Lucas Oluoch contributed 33 runs, the highest of the innings, to give a morale boost to Kenya who were tottering at 6-48. Coming to bat at number eight, Oluoch hit three fences and sixes each in his 18-ball knock Ebefore being caught and bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee.

Opener Collins Obuya and captain Shem Ngoche were the other Kenya players to touch double digit figures. Obuya contributed 30-ball 20 that included two fences. He was caught by Shahab Alam in Lamichhane’s delivery. Captain Ngoche hit 13 runs facing 10 balls before Lamichhane made him caught by Karan KC.

Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane came up with his career best T20I bowling figures claiming five wickets. He also matched the previous single innings T20I highest wicket taking record for Nepal set by teammate Karan KC. Lamichhane gave away nine runs in his four over spell. KC had also taken five wickets against PNG at TU grounds conceding 21 runs in his 3.4 overs bowling.

“You feel happy when you perform well,” Lamichhane said about his bowling figures. “But winning the game is what matters the most.”

Apart from Lamichhane, Mohammad Aadil Alam pocketed two wickets while Shahab Alam and Dipendra Singh Airee picked one each. Aadil Alam gave away 21 runs in his four-over bowling.