Nepal finally registered a win in the Top End T20 Series, which is underway in Darwin, Australia, between 11 teams. With each team playing six games and the top four progressing to the semi-finals, Nepal’s chances for the next stage were almost nil with three consecutive losses.

However, defeating Hobart Hurricanes Academy at Cazalys Arena on Tuesday, Nepal ended their drought for a win in Darwin, Australia, and kept their hopes alive.

It was the first time in four games that Nepal were batting first. Skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel had elected to field first in the first game of the tournament against hosts Northern Territory Strike while Paudel’s side was invited to bowl first after losing the tosses against Bangladesh ‘A’ and Melbourne Stars Academy.

Aarif Sheikh, who started for the team after the third game against Melbourne Stars, was the highest scorer against the Hurricanes. In at five, Aarif smashed 33 off 26 with three fours. When he departed as the sixth wicket in 18.4 overs, Nepal were at 166.

The opening pair of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh partnered for their highest partnership in the tournament so far on Tuesday. The departure of Bhurtel (27 off 20) saw Nepal at 49 runs in 5.3 overs while Aasif added 29 off 28 before returning as the second wicket in the 10th over. Nepal were then at 77.

Bhim Sharki added 18 off 18 while Lokesh Bam, who was played down the order at in-at-seven, stayed not out at 25 off 11, with three fours and a six, taking Nepal to a defendable total of 180/7 in the first inning.

Law had made four changes to his playing XI on Tuesday compared to the squad that played Melbourne Stars on Monday. Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulshan Jha, who were regulars for the last three fixtures, alongside Sompal Kami and Shahab Alam were replaced by Bam, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav and Rijan Dhakal.

However, it was more thanks to Hurricanes’ bowlers that Nepal reached a big total. While all five of the bowlers used by the Hurricanes took at least a wicket, they gave away 31 runs as extras.

Nivethan Radhakrishnan and Raf MacMillan bagged two wickets each while Marcus Bean, Gabe Bell and Bradley Hope took one each.

In turn, Nepal were far better with the ball. Giving only six runs as extras, the visitors bundled the Hurricanes at 114 runs with 23 balls remaining.

Yadav was the hero for the Rhinos as he sent half of the Hurricanes’ batting lineup back to the pavilion. In just three overs of his spell, Yadav picked a fifer. He has the second-best bowling figure in the series, falling short of Pakistan Shaheens’ Faisal Akram in economy. Yadav and Akram are the only two in the series with a five-wicket haul.

While it was Paudel who gave the first wicket for Nepal, bowling out opener Radhakrishnan for a duck in the second ball of the first over, Yadav took care of the other two—Will Prestwidge (5 off 8) and Hope (31 off 36)—in the top three.

Yadav’s other victims were Tom Dwyer (0 off 1), MacMillan (5 off 4) and Bell (2 off 2).

“After three defeats, we really wanted to win the game. We had a chat in the dressing room that we need to do something else than what we were doing before,” Yadav said in the post-match. “When you are a bowler, you need a good total on the board. The batters gave us a good opportunity to defend the target.”

Nepal ended Hurricanes’ chase with a run out of Bean in the first ball of the 17th over while Dhakal, Sandeep Lamichhane and Bhurtel picked one wicket each.

Yadav also thanked the Nepali fans who were present in the game. “Thanks to the crowd as well for putting more energy into us,” he said.

With the win, Nepal climbed a position in the league table. From 10th, they are now at 9th with 2 points. Yet, their chances for the semi-finals still remain slim.

The Rhinos will now face Melbourne Renegades Academy on Wednesday and Pakistan Shaheens on Friday.