KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 24
Nepal defeated Oman by nine wickets to finish third in the ICC T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat today.
Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood’s decision to bat first back fired after Nepali bowlers restricted the hosts for a paltry 87-9 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Kushal Bhurtel then scored a brilliant half century as Nepal raced to 90-1 with 22 balls to spare. Nepal made it three wins in a row over Oman. Nepal had defeated the hosts in Quadrangular T20 Series and league round match of the Qualifiers.
Nepal made the breakthrough in the second over and the bowlers did not allow Oman batsmen to settle and build partnerships.
Oman skipper Maqsood top scored for the team with 28-ball 21, while Ayaan Khan (16), Naseem Khushi (15) and Kaleemullah (14 not out) were the other batsmen who could contribute in double figures.
Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane returned with the figures of 3-13 from four overs, while Kamal Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Abinash Bohara and Sagar Dhakal grabbed one wicket each.
Lamichhane, who led the national team for the first time after Cricket Association of Nepal sacked Gyanendra Malla and his deputy Dipendra Singh Airee from their posts in December last year, was named the skipper sacking was later named the player of the match.
Nepal opener Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh added 50 runs in 7.3 overs before the latter was dismissed by Maqsood for 18-ball 13. Bhurtel and Aarif Sheikh then took the team home without further loss sharing a 41-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket. Bhurtel, who reached half century off 42 balls, remained unbeaten on 53-ball 55 that included three fours and two sixes, while Aarif Sheikh struck a four in his 21 not out off 27 balls.
Nepal, who made it to the semi-finals with perfect record of three straight wins, lost to the United Arab Emirates, which dashed their World Cup hopes on Tuesday.
Oman were beaten by Ireland in another semi-final match.
Finalists Ireland and UAE earned berths in the ICC T20 World Cup to be held later this year in Australia.
In the final match, the UAE defeated Ireland by seven wickets. UAE bowled Ireland out for 159 runs in 20 overs and raced to 160-3 with eight balls to spare riding on a superb century from opener Muhammad Waseem. Waseem struck seven fours and eight sixes in his 66-ball 112, while Rohan Mustada remained unbeaten on 35-ball 37. Harry Tector top scored for Ireland with 37-ball 50.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 25, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.