KATHMANDU: Nepal has set a target of 257 runs for Oman in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match being played on Tuesday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal were bowled out for 256 runs in 49.5 overs.

Opener Aasif Sheikh led Nepal’s batting effort with a superb 94 off 97 balls, striking five sixes and seven fours. He missed his second ODI century by just six runs and also fell short of reaching 1,800 ODI runs by a margin of three runs. The innings marked his 14th half-century in ODIs.

Aasif shared a vital 123-run partnership for the second wicket with Arjun Kumal.

Arjun Kumal continued his promising start to international cricket, scoring 48 off 87 balls with four boundaries.

Nepal’s innings saw mixed contributions from the middle order. Binod Bhandari was dismissed for a duck, while captain Rohit Paudel managed just 9 runs, continuing his lean run in the series.

Dipendra Singh Airee added 33 off 42 balls, maintaining his strong form in the tournament, where he has already scored a century and two fifties.

Gulsan Jha contributed 17 runs, while Aarif Sheikh provided a late flourish with a rapid 43 off just 24 balls, smashing four sixes and one four. He finished aggressively with three consecutive sixes in the final over.

However, Nepal suffered a late collapse, losing wickets quickly. Karan KC was bowled on the first ball, Nandan Yadav scored 2, Sandeep Lamichhane was run out for 1, and Lalit Rajbanshi remained not out on 0.

For Oman, Nadeem Khan claimed three wickets, while Shakeel Ahmed and Hassnain Shah picked up two wickets each. Jiten Ramanandi and Aryan Bisht also contributed with one wicket apiece.

This is the fifth ODI meeting between Nepal and Oman at the Kirtipur ground. Oman have now won three of the previous four encounters, while Nepal have won one.

In their most recent clash at this venue earlier in the series, Oman defeated Nepal by 102 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Nepal’s last victory against Oman in Kirtipur came on April 21, 2023, when they won by 84 runs.