Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – A five-run loss against Oman has restricted Nepal to a second-place finish in Group A of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Region Finals. Nepal, in their final Group A matchup, suffered a loss at the hands of Oman and qualify for the semifinal, finishing behind Oman in the group.
Chasing a target of 146 runs in 20 overs, Nepal lost all ten wickets in 20 overs and made 140 runs.
Nepal, after a faltering start needed their tail to finish the match. Nepal required 26 runs to win in the final over with Oman’s ace pacer Bilal Khan bowling. Bibek Yadav hit the first three balls for sixes but got out on the fourth, meaning Nepal required seven off two deliveries. Abinash Bohora played a single off the fifth delivery, giving Karan KC the striker to hit a six in the final ball and get the team over the line. But Karan’s hit was caught on long-on by Kaleemullah which guided Oman to a five-run victory.
Nepal’s top and middle order couldn’t steer the innings, requiring a flurry in the end. Opener Aasif Sheikh went early with just five runs off eight deliveries to his name. Sompal Kami, sent at number three to bat, was the next to depart with 12 runs in nine deliveries with one four and one maximum. Opener Kushal Bhurtel got a decent start but was bowled by Mehran Khan while trying to scoop him on 26 runs. He played 18 deliveries and hit one four along with three sixes.
The middle order faltered big time. Kushal Malla could only manage to score 10 runs in 12 deliveries while skipper Rohit Paudel and Sundeep Jora both scored 12 runs. Gulshan Jha scored three while Sandeep Lamichhane added three runs to the total. Bibek Yadav contributed 39 runs off 24 deliveries with five sixes to his name. Karan KC was dismissed on 15 off 11 with one four and a six. Abinash Bohora remained unbeaten on one run.
Bilal Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Nepal, taking three wickets in his four-over spell. Shakeel Ahmed, Mehran Khan and Aqib Ilyas took two wickets each while skipper Zeeshan Maqsood took one.
Earlier, Oman, who lost the toss and invited to bat scored 145 in 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets. Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood was the highest run-getter for Oman with 32 runs in 26 deliveries striking one four and three sixes to his name. Naseem Khushi scored a quickfire 25 off 14 with two fours and two sixes. Opener Pratik Athavale hit two fours and a six in his 24-run innings off 18 deliveries. Aayan Khan steadily made 18 off 25 before being bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane.
Kashyap Prajapati made eight, Aqib Ilyas made two, Kaleemullah made five runs while Shoaib Khan and Mehran Khan went for a duck. Shakeel Ahmed remained unbeaten on 22 off 17 with two fours and a six with Bilal Khan at the other end on no runs.
Karan KC took three wickets for Nepal followed by Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane with two wickets apiece. Gulshan Jha and Abinash Bohora both took one scalp each.
Nepal finished the group on four points and behind Oman who topped on six points from three wins out of three. Oman will take on the second-placed team in Group B which is yet to be decided. Nepal will take on the UAE whose first-place finish in Group B has already been finalized. Nepal’s match will begin at 11 AM on Friday at the Mulpani Cricket Ground. The other semifinal will be played at the TU Cricket Ground.
