Nepal book a spot in World Cup Qualifier

Nepal registered a remarkable victory against UAE on Thursday in a jam-packed TU Cricket Ground. A win in the last match of the CWC League two saw Nepal surpass Namibia in the third position of the table to ensure a direct spot in the World Cup Qualifiers.

The home side were victorious by nine runs (In the D/L method), as no further play was possible after 44 overs when Nepal were 269 for six. Gulshan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee were in the middle, scoring 50(48)* and 10(11)* respectively.

Nepal had a disastrous start losing Aasif Sheikh for a duck in the first over, followed by Kushal Malla (5) in the second over. Rohit Paudel was also dismissed for 16 as Nepal were down to 37/3 after the seventh over.

Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki then shared 61 runs for the fourth wicket before Bhurtel was dismissed for a 35-ball 50. Bhim scoring his second ODI fifty, added 83 runs for the next wicket with Aarif Sheikh. Bhim scored 67 from 76 while Aarif anchored the inning further and notched up 52 runs (62 balls). For the first time, four Nepali batters scored a half-century in a single inning for Nepal.

A large number of fans were present at TU Cricket Ground.

Junaid Siddique was the pick of a bowler for UAE grabbing three wickets. Aayan Khan also bagged a couple of wickets.

Earlier, UAE posted a mammoth total of 310/5 after Asif Khan’s blistering knock. The visitors assembled 102 runs from the last six overs to post the first-ever 300+ total against Nepal by any team in ODI.

Opting to bat first at TU Cricket Ground, Muhammad Waseem yielded a quick-fire start after the dismissal of Aryan Lakra (6) in the third over. Waseem smacked biggies all over the park, disappointing the full house crowd present at the stadium. He managed 49-ball 63 runs, hammering six maximums.

CP Rizwan (7) and Aayan Khan (3) were also dismissed cheaply as Nepal were back on track after bringing them down to 128/4 in the 27th over.

Vriitya Aravind, the number three batter, brought up his fifty in 87 balls with four boundaries and a six. Aravind anchored the inning whilst the real damage came from the other end. The 135 runs partnership for the sixth wicket between him and Asif Khan did the damage during the death overs.

End of 45 overs, Asif Khan was batting at 22 runs off 22 balls at one stage. He completely changed the tempo hammering 11 sixes, bringing his maiden ton in just 41 balls, the fourth-fastest in the history of Men’s ODI cricket.

Nepal were in control until 44 overs restricting UAE to 208 for 5, but 102 runs were scored in the last six overs to put up a mammoth total. The UAE’s innings also brought the first 300+ score at TU Cricket Ground.

UAE’s Innings breakdown:

  • PowerPlay 1: Overs 0.1 – 10.0 (Mandatory – 61 Runs, 1 Wicket), Extra 8
  • PowerPlay 2: Overs 10.1 – 40.0 (Mandatory – 128 Runs, 4 Wickets), Extra 4
  • PowerPlay 3: Overs 40.1 – 50.0 (Mandatory – 121 Runs, 1 Wicket), Extra 4

Khan remained unbeaten on 101 (42 balls). Meanwhile, Arvind was dismissed for 94 runs in the last ball of the innings.

Nepal conceded 121 runs in the last powerplay.

Nepal’s death bowling in this match:

  • 50.0 – Sompal Kami – 12 runs
  • 49.0 ov – Sandeep Lamichhane – 26 runs
  • 48.0 ov – Gulshan Jha – 17 runs
  • 47.0 ov – Sompal Kami – 20 runs
  • 46.0 ov – Gulshan Jha – 14 runs
  • 45.0 ov – Sandeep Lamichhane – 13 runs

Dipendra Singh Airee picked up two wickets. Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane also pocketed one each.

cricnepal Staff
cricnepal Staffhttps://cricnepal.com
cricnepal Staff writes the news on National and International cricket.

Related

Latest

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Latest

- Advertisement -