Nepal were bowled out for 256 in 49.5 overs after electing to bat first against Oman in the 102nd match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in Kirtipur on Tuesday.

Aasif Sheikh produced the standout performance, scoring 94 off 97 balls with seven fours and five sixes. After early trouble with Binod Bhandari falling for a duck in the second ball of the innings, Aasif and Arjun Kumal rebuilt the innings with a crucial 123-run stand for the second wicket. Kumal made 48 off 87 balls, helping stabilise Nepal after the initial setback.

Nepal reached 82 for 1 at the drinks break in the first half of the innings and went on to bring up 100 in 23.4 overs. However, the scoring slowed as Oman’s bowlers tightened control through the middle overs. Rohit Paudel contributed nine, while Dipendra Singh Airee added 33 off 42 balls to keep the innings moving.

Gulsan Jha chipped in with 17 before Aarif Sheikh provided late acceleration, striking 43 off just 24 balls, including one four and four sixes. His innings lifted Nepal past the 200-run mark and pushed the total towards a competitive score.

Nepal reached 150 in 32.4 overs and 200 in 43.1 overs, but lost momentum in the final phase. From a promising position of 226 for 5, the innings collapsed quickly, losing the last five wickets for just 30 runs. The tail offered little resistance as Nepal were bowled out two balls short of the full quota.

For Oman, Nadeem Khan was the most effective bowler with three for 41. Shakeel Ahmed and Hassnain Shah took two wickets each, while Jiten Ramanandi and Aryan Bisht also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs to trigger Nepal’s late collapse.