Nepali Cricket Team defeated UAE in the last match but not in a manner it will be particularly happy with. The opening was once again weak and the fast bowling did not impress much either. Match against USA will be ideal get these areas of the game cleaned up before the real show.
USA Cricket Team, considered one of the weaker sides of the tournament has always challenged Nepal.Although this is the first T20 match between Nepal and USA, Nepali Team is a known rival to USA. USA and Nepal have played againt each other 8 times in last 5 years; twice more than any other team Nepal played in these 5 years. four of those Eight matches went in Nepal’s favour!
However the last these teams met USA humiliated Nepal riding on 162 from Steven Taylor as Nepal were 94 runs short of USA’s 366.
The Opening
Nepal will be focussed on opening pair. Nepal will very likely bat first today to give a chance to openers to play freely and settle into their strides before the first match. Subash has good record against USA with a hundred in one matcha and 40 in other of WCL Division 4.
The Fast Bowling
Except the first of the four wins which came over 5 years back in WCL Division 5, Nepal has always relied heavily on spin for the other 3 occassions. Basanta took two five wicket hauls in Division 4 last year, while Rahul starred with 7 wickets in final of Division 5 to help Nepal beat USA. And times when Basanta went for runs and couldn’t pick wickets Nepal lost.
Nepali fast bowlers have always found it challenging to bowl to USA batsman. Amrit Bhattarai, Binod Das, Meheboob Alam-the star Nepali fast bowlers haven’t bothered USA a lot. It will be a good test for Jitendra and Amrit right before the real game.
Gyanendra Malla
Malla has always starred with the bat against USA. He has alawys been amongst runs. If Malla gets runs today like he has been doing in previous matches against USA he will be more confident going into the tournament. Malla hasn’t fired as per his ability, USA match could help his get into his zone for the rest of the tournament.
