Cricnepal/Kathmandu – Nepal defeated Uganda by five wickets to clinch the title of ICC World Cricket League Division 3. With the win Nepal also avenged its loss to Uganda in the League stage of tournament.
Nepal started the tournament in the worst way possible, losing 2 matches in a row so badly that they were at the bottom the points table and on verge of Relegation.Nepal had lost its second game to Uganda by 6 wickets.
Nepal however fought back winning 3 of its last games, overhauled the second position from USA with better run Rate to make it to the final of the tournament.Coming into the match in high spirits after promotion to World Cup Qualifier and emphatic win over Italy in their final group stage match.
Coming into the match in high spirits after promotion to World Cup Qualifier and brimming with confidence after emphatic wins in last three matches, Nepal were eyeing Revenge to their League stage loss to Uganda.
Nepalese bowlers obliged to Uganda’s invitation to bowl creating havoc in Uganga’s batting l.Nepal then chased down the total thanks to half centuries from opener Pradeep Airee and Sharad Veswarkar.
Uganda Innings
Uganda set up a target of 152 runs for Nepal. Muhumuza top scored for Uganda with 28. Sematimba added 27 while captain Arinaitwe scored 23; but it was pair of Charles Waiswa and Richard Okia who gave the final push scoring 13(13) and 16(13) runs respectively. The pair added unbeaten 23 runs for the ninth wicket in 2.5 overs. It was the fourth highest partnership of the day. The first being between Muhumuza and Arinaitwe for 6th of 46 runs.
Uganda made extremely slow start scoring just 18 off the first 10 overs. They lost their top four batsmen for just 39 runs. Paras , Prithu, Shakti and Basanta getting one each.
Sematimba and Muhumuza added 26 runs for the fifth wicket, the second highest partnership of Uganda’s innings taking Uganda to 65 runs in 21 overs. The wicket pulled Uganda’s scoring rate further down and at 33 overs they were just 65 runs- run rate of less than 2 runs an over.
Arinaitwe and Muhumuza then up’ed’ the tempo adding 46 runs in next 8 overs taking Uganda to 111-5 in 42 overs. The Nelson got better of Uganda as they lost their set captain run out for 23. Muhumuza soon fell, bowled by Basanta Regmi. Nsubuga was the eight wicket to fall for personal score of 6 caught by Veswarkar off Rahul’s bowling in the 45th over.
45-49 overs fetched 18 runs for Uganda taking their score to 132/8. Sanjam Regmi bowled the last over and gave away 19 runs. Waiswa smacked the second ball for a 6 and got 4 off the 4th ball. Okai ended Uganda’s inning in style hitting the final ball of the innings for a 6. Uganda thus 151/8 at end of 50 overs.
Basanta and Rahul picked up two wickets for Nepal while Prithu, Paras and Shakti bagged 1 wicket each to restrict Uganda to small total. Nepal went into the game without a front line seam bowler just like the previous match.
Nepal Innings
Nepal made a shakey start losing Khakurel(4) in the first ball of third over to Waissa at team total of 8.Gyanendra and Pradeep added 21 runs for the second wicket- Pradeep got 16 of those 21 runs.
Malla fell for personal score of 5 runs at team’s total if 29 in the end of 8th over. Nepal lost in form skipper Paras Khadka, 2.4 overs and 1 runs later- Nepal 30-3 in 10.4 overs.
Nepal then in grave concern. Veswarker then joined Pradeep in the middle and the duo added 77 runs for the fourth wicket, turning match firmly in Nepal’s way and set up the foundation for the momentous win.
The first five overs of the partnership fetched as many runs as the overs. Nepal were 35/3 in the 15th over and a tad behind the runrate. Nepal scored 20 runs in the 16th overs all credits to Pradeep who smacked two fours and two sixes in that over to bring Nepal’s chase back on track.
Pradeep eventually got to his 50 off 79 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Pardeep fell for personal score of 60 runs of with 5 fours and 4 sixes, caught by Kyobe of Ssenyondo.
Binod Bhandari the joined Veswarkar to the crease but made an early walk back to the pavilion adding just 5 runs caught by Muhumuza off Ssenyondo. That was Ssenyondo’s second wicket of the day.
Nepal 113/5 with 39 more run to win.
Prithu came into bat at number 7. Veswarkar and Prithu then piled the remaining runs to steer Nepal to win.
Prithu started slow and had only 1 runs in 13 balls but the game unbeaten in 19 of 23 balls. He smacked a six and four in the 38th over to ease the pressure for Nepal.
Veswarkar was on 46 n.o when Nepal needed just 3 to win. He smacked second ball of 40th over for four to score the winning runs for Nepal and also to get a well deserved half century .This was the second fifty of the tournament for Veswarkar, he scored 74 against USA in the opening match of the tournament.p
Pradeep Airee was adjudged the player of the match for his fighting 60 runs. He held his side of the wicket while wickets were tumbling at other end. He opened up at times to play some big shots but he controlled his nerves and shots in most part his innings to build a match winning knock.
Match Summary
NEPAL WIN DIVISION 3
Nepal vs. Uganda
FINAL – DIVISION 3, Bermuda
Toss: Uganda
RESULT : NEPAL WON by 5 wickets and Crowned DIVISION 3 Champions
End of first Innings
Uganda 151/8 in 50 overs
Muhumuza 28, Sematimba 27 and *Arinattwe 23
Basanta 2/24 Rahul 2/34 Prithu 1/15
Nepal 153/5 in 39.2 overs
Pradeep 60 Veswarkar 50* Prithu 19*
Ssenyondo 2/29 Waiswa 1/20 Arinaitwe 1/39
Player of the match: Pradeep Airee
