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Paras Khadka Winning The Maiden ODI For Nepal Off Last Ball Is Not For The Faint-Hearted — Watch

Paras Khadka scripts heart-stopping maiden ODI victory in last-ball thriller

From playing Division League 5 to playing his maiden ODI in 2018, Nepal skipper Paras Khadka has come a long way. The first time Khadka played for Nepal was in 2014. After playing their first List A match in 2014, it took four years for Nepal to get the ODI status. But they did not get the perfect start, losing to Netherlands after a dramatic batting collapse in the first ODI. But this was just a minor setback of Khadka’s career, he had come a long way to lose heart after just one ODI.

After a sensational four-wicket haul in the first ODI, it was time for Khadka to show his batting prowess. He scored his maiden ODI half-century which helped Nepal a respectable score of 216 against Netherlands. He had support from youngster Sompal Kami who scored a quickfire 61 to get his side past 200.

Kami struck in first over but the Dutch recovered quickly. Their top order was doing fine until the 29th over. The Nepalese forced a middle order batting collapse reducing the hosts from 114 for 2 wickets to 143 for 6 wickets. The 18-year-old leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane spun a web around the batsmen taking three wickets.

The Dutch lower order put up a fight and the game came right down to the wire. Netherlands needed 6 runs off the last 6 balls and Khadka decided to soak up the pressure and bowl the last over.

4 runs were scored off the first 4 balls, 2 through singles followed by a couple of runs. The penultimate delivery whizzed past the bat, Khadka appealed but the Umpire turned his head sideways. Importantly, it was a dot ball. All the three results were possible — a tie, win for Nepal and win for Netherlands.

The 30-year-old bowled pitched it up and Fred Klassen went for the shot. Unfortunate for him, the shot could not find the gap but hit the non-striker’s stumps. A single was still on, Khadka turned back in an instant, picked the ball and uprooted the stump before Klassen could make his ground.

It was Khadka’s presence of mind which ensured Nepal win the match by 1 run. After the bails are dislodged with a shot, stumps need to be uprooted off the ground to claim a run-out and that’s exactly what he did.

ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana Hits Maiden Century In KSL Off Just 61 Balls — Watch

The all-rounder is considered as a legend of Nepal cricket. The cricketer who made the ODI and T20I status possible. Nepal may excel in the sport in the coming years but they will always have Khadka to thank for his contribution to take them to this stature.

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