Nepal suffered their biggest defeat in terms of run-margin in the ongoing World Twenty20 for the Blind in the penultimate league stage match losing to hosts India by 152 runs on Wednesday.

Electing to bat first at the ACA cricket grounds in Guntur, India amassed 289-1 before restricting Nepal to 137-5 in 20 overs. Nepal’s previous biggest defeat in terms of run-margin was 131 against Sri Lanka in the sixth game, while they had also lost to England by 90 runs on Tuesday. 

Chasing a big target, Nepal lost opener Badri Chaulagain (two) early in the game before Ramesh Baniya and Sunil Subedi Chhetri (12) tried to consolidate the innings with a 48-run second wicket partnership. Nepal then went on to lose three quick wickets including the two set batsmen as they were reduced to 85-4 in 13.2 overs. 

Baniya top scored for Nepal with 35 off 36 balls with two hits to the fence.

Padam Bahadur Badela and Bikram Bahadur Rana pushed the team close to 150-run mark with a 52-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Badela made 22-ball 28 with three boundaries, while Rana’s unbeaten 28-ball 24 included two sixes.

Earlier, India build on a strong foundation laid by openers Ajay Kumar Reddy and Durga Rao who remained unbeaten in their 172-run opening wicket stand before retiring hurt. Reddy smashed 109 off 50 balls with 17 boundaries, while Rao chipped in a 33-ball 53 with eight boundaries. 

Prem Kumar (two) was run out as the only Indian wicket to fall before Venkatesh Rao provided a lift to the innings clobbering 33-ball 82 with 11 boundaries. Nepal will wrap up their tournament campaign with the match against New Zealand on Thursday.

Summary

India 289-1 in 20 overs (A Reddy 109, V Rao 82, D Rao 53) beat Nepal 137-5 in 20 overs (R Baniya 35, P Badela 28, B Rana 24; A Reddy 1-28, M Iqbal 1-42) by 152 runs