KATHMANDU: Despite its 5-wicket loss to the USA on Friday, Nepal paved its way to Division IV on a better net run rate after the side along with the USA and Singapore finished with 8 points each on the standing in the ongoing Pepsi ICC WCL Div 5 being played in Kathmandu.

Electing to bat first in today’s match played at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal could put only 162 runs on board in their allotted 50 overs.

The Nepali innings was largely built around Gyanendra Malla’s 52 after other top order batsmen failed to prove their batting prowess for yet another time.

The centurion of the previous match, Sarad Vesawkar, scored 15 runs while skipper Paras Khadka contributed 12. All rounder Mehboob Alam chipped in 38 runs, the next highest Nepali individual score in the match.

In reply the USA looked comfortable chasing the low-score target, reaching 150 runs—13 runs away from the target—losing five wickets in 32 overs.

After the USA looked well set to a convincing victory, the Nepali spectators –worried about an unexpected exit from the tournament—ran on an obstruction spree, pelting stones and water bottles to the ground. This forced the match to be decided on the D/L method, with the USA getting a revised target of 157 runs in 46 overs under it.

In the other match of the day, Singapore defeated Jersey, which meant Nepal, the USA and Singapore all tied on 8 points after the completion of league matches. Subsequently, Nepal (+1.351) and the USA (+1.371) were declared winners on better net run rate, while unfortunate Singapore (+1.347) missed its chance of being elevated to Division IV marginally.