With the revival of multiday cricket in Nepal through the Jay Trophy, the white jersey and red ball are back in focus. While excitement builds around this historic event, let’s take a look at Nepal’s performances in first-class cricket so far. Nepal has played five first-class matches, and the players’ statistics offer an intriguing glimpse into the nation’s cricketing journey.
Most Matches Played:
Sharad Vesawkar holds the record for playing the most first-class matches for Nepal. He has featured in all five matches, which include two matches each in the Intercontinental Cup of 2004 and 2005, and one against the MCC in 2019.
Leading Run-Scorers
- Sharad Vesawkar: The top run-scorer for Nepal in first-class cricket with 189 runs across five matches.
- Shakti Gauchan: Second on the list with 171 runs.
- Paresh Lohani: Secures the third spot with 133 runs.
Highest Individual Score
Sharad Vesawkar also holds the record for the highest individual score by a Nepali batsman in a first-class inning with 89 runs. Notably, no Nepali batsman has scored a century in first-class cricket yet.
Top Wicket-Takers
- Binod Das: Dominates the bowling stats with 19 wickets in just three matches.
- Mehaboob Alam: Follows with 12 wickets to his name.
Best Bowling Figures
Binod Das boasts the best bowling figures in an inning, taking 6 wickets for 29 runs. He is also the only Nepali bowler to have taken five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket and he has three of those.
Best Batting Averages
- Sandeep Lamichhane: Tops the chart with an impressive batting average of 64, albeit from a single match.
- Sompal Kami: Holds the second-best average of 38.5, also from one match.
- Paras Khadka: Comes in third with an average of 36 from multiple matches.
Looking Ahead
The Jay Trophy marks a significant step towards reviving multiday cricket in Nepal, providing a platform for players to showcase their talent in the longer format. As fans reminisce about past performances, the return of this format brings renewed hope for achieving greater milestones in the future.
Nepal’s performances in these five first-class matches will be published tomorrow (January 3). Stay tuned to The Cricket Nerd for detailed insights and analysis!