In Nepal cricket is very popular as in India, but due to the space required for practice and formal matches, its potential for growth has been limited across most of this very hilly and mountainous country, with the exception of some parts of the Terai in the south of the country. It is nevertheless the most popular of all sports amongst Nepalis, including television and online: for more detail on cricket in Nepal please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_in_Nepal
Many Nepalis look to some of the main Indian IPL Clubs such as Mumbai Indians, to follow. In the UK at this time (2020) there is still little development of actual Nepali cricket clubs and tournaments, but Nepalis in the UK are starting to play in English County Cricket affiliate clubs such as Poole Town Cricket Club, again Deepak Tamrakar is our example of a Nepali community member integrating in such clubs. In his case winning a Man of the Match accolade (and presentation, as per traditional custom, with the match cricket ball in the 2019 season) – see image of ball above. We understand however that in Ireland there is at least one Nepali community members cricket club, which is an exceptional development considering there are only some 2000 Nepali residents settled in the Republic.
A very special event happened in the summer of 2016 (https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/nepal-to-play-marylebone-cricket-club-at-lord-s-in-2016-1493320), however, when the Nepal National Cricket Team played a friendly with MCC at Lords Cricket Ground in London. This was to mark the bicentenary of Nepal – British friendship and relations and was organised by Mr Nabin Gurung, Mr Prashant Kunwar and others: we provide details of this historic match below. Subsequently from this initiative, pre-Covid 19 further matches have been played in England by Nepal’s national team, making for a really exciting development of match level links between England and Nepal.
Captain Paras Khadka at the toss before the game against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Photo Courtesy: Raman Shiwakoti
KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) by 41 runs to record a triumph at historic Lord’s Cricket Ground of London in England on Tuesday.
Nepal’s spinners dented MCC’s run chase as they were skittled for paltry 176 runs in pursuit of 218 for victory.
MCC’s opener Adair tried to steer his side to victory with a measured innings of 100 but fell short to take his side over the line.
Nepal’s spinners bowled in tandem to tandem without giving any width to the home side and orchestrated the victory.
Sagar Pun was pick of the Nepali bowlers as he scalped up three crucial MCC’s wickets with the best figure of 10-2-35-3. Basanta Regmi claimed 3-35 while medium-pacer Som Pal Kami took 2-33.
MCC’s batsmen found hard to handle the variety of Nepali bowling as spinners took wickets at regular interval.
Nepal’s opening batsman Gyanendra Malla tries to play a cut-short against MCC at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London in England, on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Photo Courtesy: CricketingNepal
Adair had anchored the MCC’s innings with his sensible 100 but fell to left arm delivery of Basanta Regmi’s outgoing ball to snick a catch to Raju Rijal behind the stumps.
He also struck three maximum blows during his innings, playing spinners and seamers with ease and nudging ones and two’s all around the park. He reached his milestone off 122 deliveries, with a forward push to long-on off Basanta Regmi’s delivery.
Nepal team waves to the crowd at the end of their friendly game against MCC at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London in England, on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Photo Courtesy: Cricketing Nepal
Contingent of Nepali cricket supporters watch their team’s play against the hosts MCC at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London in England, on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Photo Courtesy: CricketingNepal
Earlier, Nepal had won the toss and elected to bat first in the slow batting wicket at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Nepal posted a formidable total of 218 runs for victory to MCC in their first ever game at Cricket’s holy grail Lord’s.
Source: https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/nepal-record-historic-lords-win/