Nepal defeated the low standing Bermuda by 24 runs to keep the World Cup Qualifying hopes alive in the ICC Wolrd Twenty20 Qualifiers in UAE at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
With the win, Nepal now stands at fourth position. Canada is a position ahead just of net run rate. Canada has the rate of +0.396 while Nepal holds +0.328. Afghanistan with straight 5 wins is in the top while Netherlands is in the second spot with 4 wins of the 5 matches played.
Winning the toss, Nepal opted to bat first. Paras khadka struck an influential half century and Sharad Vesawkar remained 6 runs short of half century as Nepal posted a good total of 151 runs losing 6 wickets off the maximum 20 overs.
Nepal lost two wickets early though, Anil Mandal at 11 runs and Pradeep Airee at 33 runs. Mandal was caught by David Hemp in the ball of Dion Stovell for 7 runs while Airee was sent stumped at 15 runs off 14 deliveries.
Vesawkar and Khadka shared a partnership of 65 runs for third wicket. Vesawkar was unlucky to be bowled by Justin Pitcherfor 44 runs. He hit 6 fours in his 37 balls inning. Khadka remained unbeaten at 65 runs off 48 deliveries. Khadka struck 8 fours and a six.
Hard hitter Mahaboob Alam once again failed to prove himself as he was sent bowled by Pitcher for just 5 runs. Gyanendra Malla only joined Khadka with 2 runs off 3 balls. Prithu Baskota could not even open his account after being sent for a catch out in the very first ball.
Nepal was at 134 for 6 wickets before Basanta Regmi stepped in. Regmi remained not out at 10 runs off 4 balls including a four.
For Bermuda, Dion Stovell took four wickets while Justin Pitcher picked up two wickets.
In reply, Bermuda managed to score only 127 runs losing 5 wickets in 20 overs.
Janeiro Tucker top scored for Bermuda with 32 runs off 27 balls with 2 fours and a six. Opening pair Stovell and Hemp shared a 22 runs partnership before Stovell was sent for a lbw by Shakti Gauchan.
Lionel Cann was sent for lbw in the same over for naught. Sharad Vesawkar hit the stump as Steven Outerbridge was run out for 10 runs in 8.2 overs where Bermuda struggled at 40 for 3 wickets. However a 56 runs partnership between Tucker and Hemp saw Bermuda to 96 for 4 wickets in 15.2 overs just before Hemp was bowled by Nepal skipper Khadka. Tucker was bowled by Gauchan in the very first ball of 17th over.
After Rodney Trott and Kamau Leverock both remained unbeaten at 8 runs and 15 runs respectively, Bermuda had a final score of 127 runs.
For Nepal’s victory, Shakti Gauchan grabbed three wickets while man of the match Paras Khadka picked up a wicket.
In other matches of the day, Hong Kong defeated Denmark by 35 runs, Netherlands defeated P.N.G. by 9 wickets and Afghanistan defeated Canada by 41 runs. While in group B, Italy defeated Uganda by 13 runs, U.S.A. defeated Oman by 30 runs, Ireland defeated Scotland by 17 runs and Namibia defeated Kenya by 7 wickets.
Nepal will now see the Netherlands at ICC Global Cricket Academy, Dubai on Monday morning.
