Visiting Nepal secured second victory over Kenya defeating the hosts by four wickets to take 2-1 lead in the five-match Twenty20 International Series at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, the home team posted 156-2 on the back of unbeaten half centuries each from Rakep Patel and Irfan Karmi. In reply, Nepal made 160-6 with three balls to spare after a collective batting effort by the visiting side.

Nepal had won the first match by five wickets on Thursday before losing the second match by 18 runs on Friday.

It was a day worth remembering for former captain Gyanendra Malla, who marked comeback to national squad after six months and debutant Arjun Saud. Malla scored 46 runs—the highest of Nepal’s innings and his highest individual score in the last 17 games.

Wicketkeeper batter Saud, who came to open the innings, exhibited that he could be a solution to Nepal’s opening woes, scoring 35 runs in his maiden T20I.

Wicketkeeper batter Saud, who replaced Aasif Sheikh in the starting lineup, and Malla played a 42-run stand for the second wicket.

Saud hit two fences and three sixes in his 31-ball knock before being bowled by Vraj Patel. Other opener Pawan Sarraf scored 20 off 12 before being dismissed with 35 runs on board. He hit three fences and a six.

“It never looked like Arjun was playing his first match. The way he batted really looked cool, calm and composed,” said Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane.

Malla, coming to bat at number three, struck four fences and a six facing 41 deliveries. He was stumped by wicketkeeper Karim off Collins Obuya in the 19th over at 5-148 on board. “I missed an opportunity to finish the game,” said former captain Malla while collecting his player-of-the-match trophy.

Malla shared a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket with Rohit Paudel, who contributed 29 runs facing 18 balls. He struck three fences and a six before Rakep caught him in a delivery by Eugene Ochieng.

Mohammad Aadil Alam contributed 16 off 7 before Aarif Sheikh finished the match with a boundary.

Ochienge and Vraj Patel picked two wickets each for Kenya. Ochienge gave away 28 runs in his three-over spell while Patel conceded 22 runs in his four overs bowling.

Earlier batting first, Kenya lost openers cheaply with 2-29 on board. But Rakep Patel and Irfan Karim shared an unbeaten stand of 127 runs as the home team posted a challenging total. Patel contributed 73 runs in his quickfire knock off 43 balls comprising five boundaries and four sixes. Karim played 47-ball 55 that included four fences and two maximums.

Kenya opener Sukhdeep Singh was dismissed for eight runs as he was caught by captain Sandeep Lamichhane off Sompal Kami in the fifth over. The other opener Collins Obuya scored 14 off 18 before he was bowled by Mohammad Aadil Alam in the sixth over.

Medium pacer Kami claimed a wicket in his three-over spell giving away 16 runs. Captain Lamichhane was the most expensive bowler as the leg spinner conceded 42 runs in his four-over haul and remained wicket-less. Md Aadil Alam conceded four runs in his single over bowling and picked a wicket. Shahb Alam gave away 28 runs in his four over bowling and remained wicket-less.