Dipendra Singh Airee Pioneers Nepal to Victory Over USA
Despite being precariously positioned at 93 for 4, the experienced duo of Paudel and Airee turned the game in Nepal's favor. Airee began his innings with an aggressive mindset, hitting a stunning inside-out shot over deep extra cover. In contrast, Paudel showcased his finesse, employing laps, scoops, and reverse scoops to accumulate runs. The pair scored an impressive 38 runs in the last 14 deliveries of their innings, leaving USA's bowlers reeling until Airee was dismissed in the penultimate over.
In an electrifying opening T20I match, Nepal triumphed over the USA by 17 runs at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Rohit Paudel's squad turned the tables on the American team, who were riding high following their historic victory against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Paudel himself played a crucial role, scoring 49 runs off 33 balls, while Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 28 runs off 17 balls. Together, they formed a vital partnership of 66 runs for the fifth wicket, propelling Nepal to a total of 164 for 9. Although Shayan Jahangir fought valiantly for the USA, scoring 60 runs off 34 deliveries, the team ultimately fell short in their chase.
The match did not start well for USA's Saurabh Netravalkar, as Anil Sah took charge early on, giving Nepal a flying start. Sah showcased his attacking prowess by striking three boundaries within the powerplay, forcing Netravalkar out of the attack. He continued to impress, hitting Nosthush Kenjige for a massive six, but his innings came to an end when Ali Khan trapped him leg before wicket in the last over of the powerplay. Nonetheless, Sah's explosive start laid a solid foundation for the Nepalese batting lineup.
Following Sah's dismissal, Aasif Sheikh, who had been content to play a supporting role, began to find his rhythm. He struck a couple of boundaries off Kenjige and Jasdeep, only to be dismissed by Harmeet Singh shortly after. Harmeet's spirited celebration was a catalyst for Kenjige, who took the wicket of Kushal Bhurtel in the next over. Gulsan Jha, new to the crease, made an immediate impact with a powerful six over mid-wicket, followed by a boundary off Ali Khan. However, Harmeet Singh quickly ended Jha's aggressive innings when he fell to a straight delivery while attempting a reverse sweep.
Despite being precariously positioned at 93 for 4, the experienced duo of Paudel and Airee turned the game in Nepal's favor. Airee began his innings with an aggressive mindset, hitting a stunning inside-out shot over deep extra cover. In contrast, Paudel showcased his finesse, employing laps, scoops, and reverse scoops to accumulate runs. The pair scored an impressive 38 runs in the last 14 deliveries of their innings, leaving USA's bowlers reeling until Airee was dismissed in the penultimate over.
The game’s dynamics shifted drastically due to contrasting approaches during the PowerPlay. While Nepal exhibited an aggressive batting style, the USA seemed tentative and uncertain in their own batting powerplay. Nepal imposed early pressure, leading to Sai Teja Mukkamalla's departure after attempting an ambitious shot off Karan KC, which ended up being caught high in the air. Rijan Dhakal, the left-arm seamer, capitalized on the pressure by dismissing captain Monank Patel, whose attempt to hoick the ball resulted in a clean bowled. Aaron Jones struggled to find form once again and, in a moment of desperation, was run out in the final over of the PowerPlay, leaving USA in a dire position at 26 for 3.
With USA reeling, hopes rested on Andries Gous to rescue the innings. Known for his ability to score quickly in T20 matches, Gous faced a stern challenge from the Nepalese bowlers. He managed to hit back-to-back boundaries off Dhakal, but largely struggled with his timing and rhythm before being dismissed in the 11th over. Milind Kumar attempted to stabilize the innings but was unable to create significant momentum, leading to further frustration for the USA.
Shayan Jahangir emerged as a beacon of hope for the USA during the middle overs. He started aggressively, targeting Gulsan Jha and hitting consecutive boundaries through the offside. As the pressure mounted, Jahangir shifted gears, especially after the dismissals of Milind and Harmeet in the 16th over, emboldening him to take risks. He launched a blistering assault on Sompal Kami in the penultimate over, reaching his second T20I fifty off just 32 balls. However, with the USA requiring 49 runs from the final two overs, Jahangir's valiant effort came to an end as he swung for the fences, ultimately leaving the USA 17 runs short of victory.
In the end, the match was defined by a combination of Nepal's aggressive batting approach and their effective bowling strategy. Rohit Paudel’s leadership and the standout performance from Dipendra Singh Airee, who not only contributed significantly with the bat but also claimed 3 wickets for 27 runs, were pivotal in securing Nepal's victory.
The contrasting fortunes of both teams in the PowerPlay reflected in the final scores: Nepal’s ability to capitalize on early momentum juxtaposed with the USA’s struggles showcased the importance of starting strong in T20 matches. As the series continues, the USA will need to regroup and find a way to harness the potential of their players to challenge Nepal in the upcoming fixtures.
Brief Scores: Nepal 164/9 (Rohit Paudel 49, Dipendra Singh Airee 28; Harmeet Singh 2-18) defeated United States of America 147/7 (Shayan Jahangir 60, Andries Gous 30; Dipendra Singh Airee 3-27) by 17 runs.
