Day four of Nepal Cricket’s Core Camp saw intense competition and thrilling moments as Team Red and Team Yellow triumphed in closely contested matches at Mulpani. Team Red narrowly defeated Team Blue by one wicket, while Team Yellow comfortably secured a five-wicket victory against Team Green. The matches showcased exciting individual performances and intense battles across both venues in Mulpani.
Team Red vs. Team Blue: A Nail-Biting Finish
At Lower Mulpani, Team Red secured a dramatic one-wicket win over Team Blue in a thrilling encounter. After opting to bat first, Team Blue posted a competitive total of 210 runs in 47.4 overs. The top-order provided solid contributions, with Anil Sah scoring 41, Dev Khanal adding 36, Rohit Paudel contributing 35, and Shakib Haque making 31.
However, Team Red’s bowlers made sure the target remained within reach. Aakash Chand was the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets. Shahab Alam and Sandeep Lamichhane also played crucial roles, each taking two wickets. With tight bowling, Red kept Blue’s total within a manageable limit.
In response, Team Red chased down the target in 49.5 overs, reaching 211 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Bhim Sharki played a vital role in the chase, contributing a crucial 58 runs. Arjun Saud (36) and Trit Das (31) also provided valuable support. Lower-order resilience from Sandeep Lamichhane and Pratish GC proved decisive in ensuring the win.
Despite the loss, Team Blue’s bowlers, especially Dipesh Kandel and Yuvraj Khatri, who claimed three wickets each, kept the match on a knife’s edge until the final moments. Team Red remains unbeaten, with 7 points from four matches.
Team Yellow vs. Team Green: A Comprehensive Victory
Meanwhile, at Upper Mulpani, Team Yellow cruised to a five-wicket victory over Team Green. Green was asked to bat first but struggled against Yellow’s formidable pace attack, finishing with a total of just 95 runs in 27.2 overs. Abinash Bohara and Bishal Patel were the standout bowlers, taking three wickets each. Rupesh Singh and Kamal Singh Airee added two wickets each, with all ten wickets claimed by pacers—an unusual but effective strategy.
In the chase, Team Yellow encountered a few early challenges, but ultimately, they managed to cross the target in just 17.5 overs. DS Airee anchored the innings with an unbeaten 42, while Kiran Thagunna contributed 29 runs. Despite strong bowling performances from Sompal Kami and Rijan Dhakal, who took three and two wickets respectively, Green’s total proved too modest for a comeback.
Interestingly, no spin overs were bowled in this match, despite both teams having quality spinners, which is rare in Nepal’s conditions. This strategic decision highlighted the effectiveness of the fast-bowling attack on the day.
