Visiting Nepal registered a hard-fought 17-run win against Kenya in the second One-Day match to take an inaccessible 2-0 lead in the three match series at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi on Saturday.

Nepal’s victory was built on a half century by stand-in-skipper Rohit Paudel and four-wicket haul from Dipendra Singh Airee. Batting first, Nepal were dismissed for 230 runs with four balls to spare in the allotted 50 overs. In the run chase, Kenya were bowled out for 213 runs in 46.3 overs.

Nepal’s stand-in-skipper Rohit Paudel scored 78 runs, the highest of the innings, in his 95 ball knock. The number four batter smashed seven fences before being caught in the penultimate over by Nelson Odhiambo in Gerald Mwendwa delivery.

Nepal rested Aasif Sheikh, the opener who scored a century in their seven wicket win on Friday, and replaced him with Dev Khanal to open the innings along with Arjun Saud. Khanal justified the selection scoring 37 runs, the second highest of the innings, in his 55-ball knock that included four fences. He was trapped leg before by Vraj Patel.

Khanal and Gyanendra Malla put up a 56-run stand for the second wicket before the former national captain was dismissed for 25 off 37. He was bowled by James Ngoche with 2-75 on board.

The other opener Saud was dismissed for five runs with 19 runs on board. Lower middle order batter Sompal Kami contributed 26 runs in his 15-ball knock. Bashir Ahamad and Mohamad Adil Alam were other batters for Nepal to score double digit figures scoring 17 and 14 runs, respectively.

Kenya bowlers Nehemiah Odiambo, Vraj Patel and Shem Ngoche claimed two wickets each.

In the run chase, Kenya made a shaky start to their innings and were tottering at 4-39 at a moment. But Rakep Patel led the home team’s fightback scoring 81 runs. He shared an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Collins Obuya and a 50-run stand for the next wicket with Nehemiah Odhiambo with 6-170 on board. Obuya was dismissed on 37 runs and Odhiambo on 12 runs.

Patel, the next wicket to fall, hit eight fences and a six in his 98-ball knock before Airee made him caught by Ahamed with 7-172 on board. Patel’s fall sparked the collapse of the Kenya innings. They lost the remaining wickets for 41 runs with Airee claiming all three wickets.

Airee was the pick of Nepal’s bowling, claiming four wickets in his 5.3 overs spell conceding 12 runs with a maiden over. Sompal Kami grabbed three wickets in his eight-over bowling conceding 40 runs with two maiden overs.

The third match will be played on Monday.