Nepalese cricketers Gulsan Jha and Sandeep Lamichhane have achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new partnership record in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Their partnership of 80 runs for the eighth wicket during the ongoing ODI World Cup qualifier against Ireland in Zimbabwe has become the highest for Nepal in this position.
The previous record was held by Sandeep Lamichhane and Dipendra Airee, who had set a partnership of 79 runs just two days ago in a match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is worth noting that Sandeep’s name is also associated with the third-highest partnership for the eighth wicket, having shared an unbeaten 77-run partnership with Aasif Sheikh against Papua New Guinea earlier this year in the World Cup League-2 match.
In the match against Ireland, Nepal lost the toss and opted to bat first. They managed to score a total of 169 runs but lost their seventh wicket, Kushal Malla, along the way. It was then that Gulsan and Sandeep joined forces and formed an exceptional partnership. Sandeep played a quick innings, scoring 32 runs off 30 balls, which included three fours and a six before being dismissed in the 49th over. Gulsan, on the other hand, remained unbeaten, contributing an impressive 57 runs to the team’s total. His innings consisted of four fours and three sixes.
What makes Gulsan’s achievement even more noteworthy is that his score of 57 not only becomes the highest by a Nepalese batsman at the number nine position in ODIs, but also first half-century in this position. He has surpassed Sandeep Lamichhane’s previous record of an unbeaten 35 runs at number nine, which he achieved against Papua New Guinea earlier this year.
Thanks to the formidable partnership between Gulsan and Sandeep, Nepal managed to reach a respectable total of 268 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs. As a result, they have set a challenging target of 269 runs for Ireland. The outcome of this crucial match will determine which team claims the seventh position in the World Cup qualifiers.
