Suraj & Sandip's Brilliance Paves the Way for Tasmania at ONSM 2025

Team Tasmania has made a powerful statement at the 6th Oceania Nepali Sports Meet 2025 in Perth, Western Australia, bouncing back strongly after a challenging start to their campaign.

In the opening match against South Australia, Tasmania put in a valiant effort after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. The bowlers did well to restrict South Australia to 119/8, with Bikram Sob and Lalit Lamsal taking two wickets each, while Suraj Thapa and Sunit Suyal chipped in with one wicket each. Sandip Adhikari lit up the field with three stunning catches. However, the batting unit struggled under pressure and couldn’t chase down the target, resulting in a loss that only added fuel to Tasmania’s hunger for redemption.

Redemption came swiftly in the second match against hosts Western Australia. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Team Tasmania put up a formidable total of 145 runs in 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a blistering knock from Sandip Adhikari, who smashed 72 runs off 44 balls, including 6 fours and 5 towering sixes, setting the tone for the innings.

Sandip Adhikari with Player of the Match Award

But it was the second innings that saw a historic moment unfold. With a target of 146, Western Australia was completely undone by the spin wizardry of Suraj Thapa. In a mesmerising spell of just 2.2 overs, Suraj claimed 6 wickets for a mere 3 runs, with an economy of just 1.28. His spell not only sealed the win for Tasmania—who bowled out Western Australia for just 76—but also etched his name into the ONSM history books.

Suraj Thapa being awarded Player of the Match Trophy after historic performance.

For their outstanding performances, both Sandip Adhikari and Suraj Thapa were jointly awarded Player of the Match, earning praise from the match officials for their game-changing efforts.

With this dominant victory, Team Tasmania now stands with strong momentum and a significant chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

A huge appreciation goes out to Coach Amrit Bhattarai, Mentor Prakash Upreti, and Team Manager Sujan Dhungel, whose behind-the-scenes dedication is playing a crucial role in driving the team’s success on the field.