Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 27:

Nepal defeated Qatar by 98 runs and claimed the third spot at the ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Division II Cricket Tournament at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur today.

Invited to bat first, Nepal scored 176 runs for the loss of seven overs in 39 overs. Skipper Binod Das top-scored with 37 off 27 balls, which included four hits to the fence. While Kanishka Chaugain scored 33 off 39 balls, Deependra Chaudhari scored 24 off 42 balls, and Unil Shrestha and Raj Kumar Pradhan scored 23 and 20 runs respectively. For Qatar, Ushman Malik and Praje Danish grabbed three wickets each.

In reply, Qater could muster just 78 runs in 29.1 overs. Rocky Cutinha top-scored with 35 runs, Ushman Malik scored 13 runs.

For Nepal, man of the match Mahaboob Alam pocketed five wickets — Omer Taj, Sujirb Rillagodage, Azhar Iqbal Bon, Asif A Rasheed and Printa Lal — conceding 11 runs in eight overs. Dhirenda Chand claimed two wickets while Binod Das and Paras Khadka grabbed one wicket apiece.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea beat Fiji by 30 runs in the final and qualified for the ICC Trophy 2005 to be held in Ireland from July 1-14. The 12-team tournament will send top five teams to the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.