After consecutive losses to the Netherlands and Afghanistan, Nepal will take on Bermuda today in hopes of a big win. A win can place Nepal third on the table, but a loss, just as easily can end the world cup roads for Nepal. Bermuda on the other hand who have 4 points with 2 matches to go have just as much chance of getting to play offs as Nepal . Having defeated Scotland earlier, they will not be as easy opponents for Nepal, as many might think looking at the previous results.
Scotland and Nepal both are on 6 points, but Nepal better that of Scots on NRR. Scotland however will play its final match with scrawny looking Denmark side. Nepal needs a big win today to stay above Scotland. If Nepal can beat the Scots on NRR with a win today, and Kenya loose the two matches against Afghanistan and the Netherlands, Nepal will qualify to play offs as third!
Nepali Team has looked pretty ordinary in the whole tournament. Batting and Bowling hasn’t looked as par with some of the better teams.
Bermuda has lost 3 games in a row (Nepal has nothing to boast though with two loses in a row) and after the first match, where they defeated Scotland by 18 runs, they haven’t seemed to trouble the other teams.
A lot would depend on toss once again. Nepal could have to bat first once again if Paras doesn’t win the toss!
Likely Changes-Looking at the previous encounters, Nepal could bank on spin. . Rahul Viswakarma could get a game today Avinash Karn bowled exceptional third over yesterday but it would be a head ache to choose between Amrit’s experience and Avinash’s promise.
Previous Encounters: 2 – nil in Nepal’s favour
These teams first met in the previous edition of T20 Qualifiers where Nepal defeated Bermuda by 24 runs. Nepal posted 151 in 20 overs thanks to 75 runs stand between Vesawkar and Paras. Veswarkar made 44 from 37 balls while Paras remained not out on 65 of just 48 balls. Nepal defended the target as Bermudan batsman could not score off the spin. Gauchan picked up 3 wickets giving just 17 runs from his four overs.
Although today’s match is only the second T20 match between these two teams, they have met once more in 50 over match. Nepal humiliated
Bermudan batsman were once again failed to play spin and were restricted for 106 runs. Paras Khadka ended with figures of 4/31 with his right arm spin. Basanta picked 3 wickets from his 10 overs and gave away just 20 runs. Sanjam Regmi bowled 7 overs for just 11 runs. Nepal chased the target in just 11.1 overs as the captain vice captain duo added 75 runs in just 7 overs for Nepal. Paras top scored for Nepal then with 46 of 27 balls.
A similar win in today’s match could give Nepal third position in the Group B table.
Bermuda Squad:
Bermuda has looked to be a typical Caribbean side with lot of talented bating all rounders. Janeiro Tucker who lead the squad to 2007 Cricket World Cup is captaining replacing Stephen Outerbrigde. Bermuda Cricket Board expressed his captaincy as sign of good omen, and so far they have a fighting chance to making it to the play offs.
ICC T20 Qualifier 2012– 13th
ICC T20 Qualifier Qualification– Finished second behind USA in the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Americas Region Twenty20 Division One
Squad:
Janeiro Tucker (captain), Kamal Bashir, Derrick Brangman, Christian Burgess, Lionel Cann, Allan Douglas II, Christopher Douglas, Terryn Fray, David Hemp, Malachi Jones, Kamau Leverock, Tre Manders, Jacobi Robinson, Dion Stovell, Kwame Tucker
Afghanistan in ICC T20 Qualifier 2013
Form: W W L L L
Most Runs : Lionel Olvin Bernard Cann with 95 runs in 5 matches
Most Wickets: J Robinson with 8 wickets
Best Bowling Performance: 3/8 J Robinson against Scotland
Best Batting Performance : 51 by JJ Tucker against Kenya
Highest Total : 149/7 against Netherlands
Most Sixes : 5 Allan Douglas
Last Match : Lost to Kenya by 7 wicketsNepal Squad:
Paras Khadka (captain), Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Amrit Bhattarai, MaheshChhetri, Shakti Gauchan, Subash Khakurel, Avinash Karn, Gyanendra Malla, Anil Mandal, Jitendra Mukhiya, Sagar Pun, Basant Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar, Rahul Vishwakarma
Nepal in ICC T20 Qualifier 2013
Form: W W L W L L
Most Runs: Paras Khadka 164 runs in 6 innings with 1 half Century
Most Wickets: Basanta Regmi and Paras Khadka with 8 wickets each
Best Bowling Performance: Basanta Regmi 3/12 against The Netherlands
Best Batting Performance: 54* Paras Khadka against Kenya
Highest Total: 186/4 in 19.4 overs against Kenya
Most Sixes: Paras Khada, 11 sixes
last Match: Lost to Afghanistan by 9 wickets.Players to watch out
Paras Khadka, has been the most successful player with both bat and ball for Nepal in this tournament. He single handedly defeated Bermuda with his all round performance the last time these teams met.
JJ Tucker has ability to play big shots. Coming to this this match with a fifty behind his in previous match he could be even more destructive. He was the highest scorer for Bermuda against Nepal in the previous edition of the tournament with 32 off 27 balls. He was the player of the tournament in ICC the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Americas Region Twenty20 Division One with 304 runs(second highest runs) and 13 wickets(over all highest wickets) in 8 matches.
Christopher Douglas has lot of fans in Nepal, especially after his match winning innings against USA which propelled Nepal to division 3. A destructive batsman he will have a important role in today’s match. It will be interesting to see how Nepalese fans react if this man fires today.
