PNG steal two-wicket win in 233 chase

Papua New Guinea 235 for 8 (Vala 87, Khadka 2-29, Alam 2-38) beat Nepal 232 for 8 (Vesawkar 78, Khakurel 63, Vala 3-32) by two wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Papua New Guinea registered a slender two-wicket win against Nepal in Abu Dhabi, by chasing down 233 with only three balls to spare. PNG's innings was led by Assad Vala's 87 until the 49th over after they were struggling on 138 for 6.

PNG were off to a brisk start, the opening stand putting up 35 in seven overs. However, two wickets each from Paras Khadka and Mahaboob Alam reduced them to 97 for 4 and they were soon six down in the 30th over. That brought together Vala and Charles Amini, who to put on a crucial stand of 65 runs to take them past 200. Once Amini fell for a 42-ball 35, PNG needed another 30 from 39 balls and Vala's presence till the penultimate over avoided further stutters, to take two points.

Opting to bat, Nepal lost Anil Mandal on the first ball of the match, trapped lbw by Norman Vanua. Subash Khakurel, the other opener, steered the innings until the 35th over with a patient 63 from 104 balls, as three more wickets fell around him. He shared a reviving stand of 56 runs for the fifth wicket with Sharad Vesawkar after they were 86 for 4 in the 23rd over. Once Khakurel was dismissed, Vesawkar led them past 200 with a brisk knock of 78 from 82 balls before falling in the last over, as Nepal reached 232 for 8 but it wasn't enough. Vala finished with 3 for 32.