Nepal registered a commanding 81-run victory over Oman in the Cricket World Cup League- 2 on Tuesday, led by Aasif Sheikh’s fluent batting and Gulshan Jha’s five-wicket haul.

At the Tribhuvan University (TU) International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, the hosts opted to bat first after winning the toss, and posted 256 runs in 49.5 overs before being bowled out. Aasif top-scored with 94 off 97 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes.

In reply, Jha’s exceptional spell of 5/ for 38 in nine overs helped bowl Oman out and secure Nepal’s first League- 2 win over them at TU Ground. Nepal had lost to Oman three times previously on home soil.

With this result, Nepal moved to 18 points from 24 matches, but still remain seventh in the standings, while Oman stay third with 31 points from 28 matches.

Nepal made early inroads after Nandan Yadav dismissed captain Jatinder Singh, who smashed a century in the previous outing against the Rhinos, for 12 runs in the seventh over, before running out Siddharth Bukkapatnam for a duck with a direct hit in the next over.

Oman opener Hasnain U Wahab made 29 off 43 balls, while Hamad Mirza scored 34 off 51 balls and Vinayak Shukla added 36 off 41 balls. Hasnain Shah contributed 14 off 10 balls.

Jha’s five-wicket performance marked his second ODI five-wicket haul, having achieved the same feat against Oman in Canada two years ago. Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav took one wicket each.

Nepal’s innings was anchored by a 123-run partnership between Aasif and Arjun Kumal, who made 48 off 87 balls in only his second international appearance.

Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored nine runs, while Jha added 17 off 23 balls. Airee made 33 off 42 balls, but the lower order faltered, with KC dismissed first ball, Yadav scoring two and Lamichhane one.

It was Aarif Sheikh who provided a late flourish with 43 off 23 balls, including three consecutive sixes in the final over. For Oman, Nadeem Khan took 3 for 41, while Hasnain Shah and Shakeel Ahmed claimed two wickets each.