Rohit Kumar Paudel becomes first Nepali to score two ODI centuries
Skipper’s 109 against UAE in Dubai propels Nepal to 233, setting a target of 234 in the League 2 encounter. He is now short of only 32 runs to become Nepal’s first batter to reach 2,000 ODI runs. Photo: Courtesy of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)
Rohit Kumar Paudel has become the first Nepali cricketer to score two centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs) after smashing 109 runs against the United Arab Emirates in the ICC World Cup League 2 match in Dubai on Thursday.
His century guided Nepal to a total of 233 runs in 50 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat at the ICC Academy in Dubai. The UAE now face a target of 234 runs.
Before Rohit, Paras Khadka, Kushal Bhurtel, Anil Kumar Sah, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee and Bhim Sharki had each scored a century for Nepal in ODIs. Khadka had also scored Nepal’s maiden ODI century at the same venue in 2019.
Skipper Rohit’s previous highest score was 126 against Papua New Guinea in 2022, which remains Nepal’s top individual ODI score. The current innings also marked his first ODI century as captain.
Paudel is also the leading run scorer for Nepal in ODIs, closing in on the 2,000-run mark. In 70 innings of the 74 matches he has played for the country, Paudel has 1,962 runs.
He had twice fallen short of a century in the past—remaining unbeaten on 95 against Scotland in Kirtipur in 2022, and getting dismissed for 96 against the United States in Dallas last year.
Other notable contributions in Thursday’s innings came from Aasif Sheikh (35), Arif Sheikh (27), and Dipendra Singh Airee (23). Bhurtel (7), Bhim Sharki (3), Sompal Kami (6), Karan KC (13), and Gulshan Jha (0) completed Nepal’s batting lineup, as the team were bowled out in the final over.
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