Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) –
Nepal Men’s Cricket Team are now one match away from qualifying for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Nepal booked their place in the ICC Men’s World T20 Asia Qualifiers semifinals with a win over Malaysia today.
The semifinal match will decide if Nepal can repeat their 2014 heroics and qualify for the T20 World Cup once again. The finalists of this tournament will book their places in the T20 spectacle in the West Indies and USA next year.
Nepal chased down a target of 166 runs put up by Malaysia in 18 overs at the loss of four wickets today. This was Nepal’s second victory in the tournament after yesterday’s win over Singapore.
Kushal Malla played a blistering knock of 65 runs off 34 deliveries with two fours and seven maximums in his innings. Opener Kushal Bhurtel gave Nepal a quick start with 43 runs in 25 deliveries with four fours and as many sixes to his name. His opening partner Aasif Sheikh made 32 off 23 with one four and a couple of sixes.
Skipper Rohit Paudel could only manage to score two runs off eight deliveries but in the end, Sundeep Jora’s unbeaten innings of 18 off 16 with two fours and Bibek Yadav at the other end on two runs took Nepal over the line with 12 balls to spare.
Muhammad Amir took three wickets for Malaysia while Pavandeep Singh took the other wicket that fell in the Nepali innings.
Earlier, Malaysia, winning the toss and opting to bat first managed to get to a total of 165 runs at the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Malaysian opener Syed Aziz gave his side a dream start making 68 runs in 49 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes. His opening pair Zubaidi Zulkifle scored 24 runs in 16 deliveries with two fours. Sharvin Muniandy and Vijay Unni both made 13 runs while the other batters were unable to reach the double figures.
Abinash Bohora was the pick of the bowlers for Nepal taking four wickets in four overs giving away 27 runs in his spell. Sandeep Lamichhane, Gulshan Jha and skipper Rohit Paudel took one wicket apiece.
Nepal’s final group match will be against Oman on Thursday. The winners of the match will qualify for the semifinals as the Group A winners and play the Group B runners-up in the semifinals. Oman defeated Singapore by 22 runs to take their points tally to four in Group A as well.
In Group B, Bahrain defeated contenders Hong Kong by 20 runs to stir up the group. UAE, on the other hand defeated Kuwait by five wickets. UAE have four points and sit top of Group B while Bahrain and Hong Kong are second and third respectively on two points. UAE will take on Hong Kong on the final day while Bahrain will play against Kuwait.
