The Nepalese national cricket team has registered an easy win against Oman in the final warmup match ahead of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023. Nepal will go to the main event with a high motive after a six-wicket win against Oman.
They faced a three-wicket defeat in a thrilling encounter against UAE in the previous warm-up match on Tuesday. Nepal’s focus will shift to the main event as they face Zimbabwe in the first match of the tournament on the 19th of June.
Chasing a target of 268 runs, Sandeep Lamichhane finished things for Nepal with 31 balls spare. Nepal reached the target in 44.5 overs, losing eight wickets in the process. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh (23) yielded a fine start adding 71 runs for the first wicket.
Kushal Bhurtel scored a ton in 91 balls, smacking 13 fours and two sixes. He retired after three balls, adding 120 odd runs with Bhim Sharki for the second wicket. Bhim Sharki made 56 runs from 74 balls with nine boundaries.
Dipendra Singh Airee scored 22-ball 26, whereas Rohit Paudel notched up 31 from 28 balls. Nepal lost a couple of quick wickets at the end before reaching the target in 44.5 overs.
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Earlier, Oman posted a decent score despite a fumbling start. Oman were 7/4 during the seventh over of the match, but skipper Zeeshan Maqsood’s terrific century helped Oman post 267 before being bowled out in 49.2 overs.
Sompal Kami dismissed Kashyap Prajapati (1), Aqib Ilyas (0) and Mohammad Nadeem (1), whereas his opening bowling partner Karan KC removed Jatinder Singh (5) early on as Oman were in huge trouble. Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood and Shoaib Khan shared 84 runs for the fifth wicket before Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Khan for 38.
Zeeshan Maqsood completed his century from 100 balls. Eventually, He got out for 108, smacking 15 fours and one six. He added a century stand with Ayaan Khan for the seventh wicket.
Ayaan Khan also played an electrifying knock at the end to help Oman post a massive total. Khan hammered 56 runs from 46 balls with four sixes and fours each. Naseem Khusi also added 9-ball 17.
For Nepal, Sompal Kami was the pick of a bowler, grabbing five wickets. He conceded 52 runs from 9.2 overs with two maidens. Sandeep Lamichhane (10-1-66-3) picked up three, while Karan KC and Prtish GC pocketed one each.
