Cricket

Sandeep Lamichhane Leads Nepal to Clinical Chase Against Saudi Arabia

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Sep 6, 2026, 14:00 IST

Nepal secured a five-wicket victory over Saudi Arabia in the ACC Men's Premier Cup, anchored by a disciplined bowling display from Sandeep Lamichhane and a composed middle-order chase.

Sandeep Lamichhane Leads Nepal to Clinical Chase Against Saudi Arabia

Lamichhane Dominates with the Ball

Nepal produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Saudi Arabia to 190 all out in Match 15 of the ACC Men's Premier Cup at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. After Saudi Arabia won the toss and elected to bat, they found themselves under immediate pressure from a sharp Nepalese attack. Sandeep Lamichhane was the standout performer, dismantling the middle and lower order with a masterful spell that yielded 3/19 from his 10 overs. His ability to stifle the scoring rate proved pivotal in keeping the target well within reach.

Saudi Arabia’s innings was largely built on the back of Abdul Wahid, who anchored the side with a resilient 77 off 89 balls. While Wahid looked comfortable at the crease, he lacked sustained support from the rest of the lineup. Muhammad Atif provided some stability with 30 runs off 68 balls, but the Saudi Arabian side struggled to build the partnerships necessary to post a more imposing total, eventually folding in 49.2 overs.

Nepal Navigates Early Trouble to Seal Victory

Chasing 191 for victory, Nepal’s pursuit did not get off to the smoothest start. The team lost two early wickets, and the dismissal of Arjun Kumal at 28 in the 8th over served as a significant turning point that threatened to derail their momentum. However, the middle order showed composure under pressure to steady the ship and guide the team toward the target.

Gulshan Jha took the initiative, playing a vital knock of 44 off 35 balls to shift the pressure back onto the Saudi Arabian bowlers. Supported by Ishan Pandey and a valuable contribution from Dipendra Singh Airee, Nepal successfully navigated the middle overs. The team reached their target with five wickets in hand, finishing on 193/5. The victory highlights Nepal's depth, as they overcame a shaky start to secure a clinical result in the tournament.