Nepal’s quest for making it to their second World T20 has remained incomplete for the third time in a row since their first appearance in 2014. Photo courtesy: CAN
Nepal signed off with a nine-wicket victory over hosts Oman in the third-place playoff match of the World Twenty20 Global Qualifiers at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat on Thursday.
Nepal, already out from the World T20 Qualification after facing a 68-run defeat to the United Arab Emirates in the semi-final on Tuesday, restricted Oman for a paltry total of 87-9 before storming to 90-1 in 16.2 overs with opener Kushal Bhurtel scoring an unbeaten half century.
It was Nepal’s second win over the host team after the opening match victory in the Qualifiers.
The two finalists–Ireland and the United Arab Emirates–have booked the tickets for the finals to be played in Australia in October and November.
The semi-final defeat meant Nepal's quest for a second World T20 remained unfulfilled for the third time in a row since their debut appearance in 2014.
On Thursday, batting first, Oman made a poor start to their innings losing first three wickets including openers with just 16 runs on board. Openers Kashyap Prajapait (5 runs) and Jatinder Singh (2 runs), and Shoaib Khan (3 runs) were out cheaply.
Khan in a third over delivery by Kamal Airee and Prajapati in the fifth over bowled by Abinash Bohara were both caught by Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane. Singh was run out by Lokesh Bam off Aarif Sheikh.
Captain Seeshan Maqsood, who came to bat at number four, contributed 21 off 18 that included three fences before being caught by Dipendra Singh Airee off Aarif. Ayaan Khan, Naseem Khushi and Kaeemullah were the other batters to touch double digit figures.
Ayaan, stumped by wicketkeeper Aasif, scored 19-ball 16 while Khushi played ball-a-run 15 before being trapped leg before by Lamichhane. Kaleemullah remained unbeaten on 14 runs.
Nepal captain Lamichhane was the pick of bowling claiming three wickets besides two catches. Declared player-of-the-match for second time in the tournament, Lamichhane conceded 13 runs in his four-over spell. Kamal, Aarif, Bohara and Sagar Dhakal pocketed a scalp each.
In the run chase, opener Bhurtel scored an unbeaten 55 runs scoring his fifth T20I half century. Bhurtel, who also scored not out 104 runs against the Philippines in their group stage match, smashed three fences and two sixes in his 53-ball knock.
He played a 50-run stand for the first wicket with Aasif, who contributed 13 runs. He was caught by Mohammad Nadeem in a delivery by Maqsood in the eighth over. His sibling Aarif remained not out on 21 runs off 27 deliveries.
Captain Maqsood was the only Oman player to claim a wicket. He gave away 21 runs in his three-over bowling.
Nepal finished the group stage on top of the four-team table winning all three matches. They beat Oman by 39 runs in the opening game, before a 136-run win over the Philippines and eight-wicket victory over Canada.
