LALITPUR; Spinners inspired Nepal to a thrilling 16-run win over Singapore in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-V match here at the Pulchowk Engineering grounds today.

Defending a modest 180-run, the home team dismissed Singapore for 164 in the 47.5 overs to record their second successive win in the tournament. The hosts had defeated Jersey by six-wickets on Saturday.

The Nepali spinners shared nine wickets between them. Binod Das and Mehboob Alam were never brought back after unsuccessful three-over spell each. Off spinner Sanjam Regmi claimed four wickets and left-arm spinner Basanta Regmi two while Shakti Gauchan and Rahul Khadka grabbed one apiece. Skipper Paras Khadka, who normally bowls medium pace, switched to off spin and claimed a wicket in his three economical overs.

Singapore coach Marvan Atapattu partly blamed the "unsatisfactory wicket" for his side's defeat. "We were chasing a modest run rate of around three runs per over in the later stages but we did not have wickets to make that happen," said the former Sri Lankan International adding that the introduction of spin early on also made the difference. His counterpart Roy Luke Dias, also a former Sri Lankan International, praised the way his boys played. "We were good in all three departments -- batting, bowling and fielding," said Dias.

The Nepali skipper Khadka immediately resorted to spin opted after the opening bowling pair Das and Alam failed to provide a break in the first six overs. The change worked as Sanjam struck in his second ball of the ninth over. He enticed Buddhika Mendis (13) to step forward leaving wicketkeeper Mahesh Chhetri to take off the bails. The off spinner returned in the next over to dismiss Chandrasekar Rvenkadaramani (three), caught by Gauchan at slip to reduce Singapore to 35-2.

Singapore played patiently nudging around for ones and twos before Basanta bowled Chetan Suryawanshi in the 20th over. Despite the disciplined spin bowling, Singapore kept on ticking runs. Anish Edward Param (41) and skipper Munish Arora (20) added further 35 runs for the fourth wicket but their 12-over stand came to an end in the 32nd over. Khadka trapped Arora leg before wicket.

Singapore were very much in the game despite losing two more wickets in quick succession. While Basanta had Mulewa Dharmichand (three) stumped by Chhetri, Riaz Altaf Hussian (two) was run out on a sharp throw from short mid-wicket by Khadka.

There were nervous moments when Saad Janjua (15) hit Rahul for two sixes in the first three balls of the 39th over. However, the bowler had the final say bowling Janjua the very next ball to make it 119-7. Dangerman Param added another 26 runs with P Raja for the eighth wicket before the batsman was stumped off Gauchan's bowling in the 44th over. Param hit just two fours in his 79-ball knock.

With two wickets remaining, Singapore were still very much in the game but Nepali skipper brought Sanjam back in the 48th over and the off spinner polished off the tail. Sanjam gifted a free hit to Singapore in his first ball allowing Mohamed Shoib to hit a six but bowled him the very next delivery. And three balls later, Sanjam had Jackie Manoj-Kumar caught at mid wicket by Dipendra Chaudhary to complete the victory.

Earlier, Nepal were reeling at 74-5 in the 29th over before Basanta (54) and Sharad Vesawkar (32) consolidated the innings to help pose a competitive total. Man-of-the-match Basanta and Vesawkar put on 61-run for the sixth wicket. Basanta was the last man out after hitting five fours in his 61-ball knock. Gauchan also contributed 24 and Khadka chipped in 18. Dharmichand was the pick of the Singaporean bowlers with three wickets while Janjua bagged two.

Nepal skipper Khadka said the sixth wicket partnership between Basanta and Vesawkar was the turning point of the match. "They made it possible to post a competitive total," said Khadka adding that his bowlers and fielder did exceptionally well to defend the total.

USA, Jersey win

BHAKTAPUR: The United States of America defeated Bahrain by 19 runs and Jersey beat Fiji by nine wickets in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-v matches on Sunday.

The USA scored 273-6 in 50 overs thanks to half centuries from man-of-the-match Lennox Cush (91) and skipper Steve Massiah (67). In reply, Bahrain failed to capitalised on a good opening to be restricted for 254 runs in 48.4 overs. Imran Sajjad (75), Abdul Majeed (47) and Adil Hanif (46) were the major contributors for Bahrain. It was the second win for the USA who defeated Fiji by 285 runs on Saturday.

At the Tribhuvan University Stadium, Fiji were all out for 122 runs in 36.2 overs before man-of-the-match Matthew Hague (52 not out) and Dean Morrison (52) guided Jersey home losing only one wicket in 20.3 overs. Hague, Ryan Driver and Ben Stevens bagged two wickets apiece for Jersey.

SCOREBOARD

NEPAL

D Chaudhary c R’mani b Janjua 2

M Alam lbw b Janjua 5

S Gauchan run out 24

P Khadka c Shoib b Dharmichand 18

S Vesawkar lbw b Manoj-Kumar 32

G Malla c Param b Dharmichand 8

B Regmi c Param b Dharmichand 54

M Chhetri c Param b Mendis 9

B Das run out 2

S Regmi not out 6

Rahul BK not out 0

Extras: 20 (b5, lb6, w8, nb1)

Total: 180/9 (50 Overs)

FoW: 1-7, 2-16, 3-43, 4-62, 5-74, 6-135, 7-159, 8-162, 9-175

Singapore bowling: Janua 7-1-21-2,

Raja 7-4-11-0, Shoib 7-1-26-0, Manoj-Kumar 10-0-28-1, Dharmichand 8-0-34-3,

Param 2-0-9-0, Mendis 9-0-40-1

SINGAPORE

Y Mendis st Chhetri b S Regmi 13

C Suryawanshi b B Regmi 29

C R’mani c Gauchan b S Regmi 3

A Param st Chhetri b Gauchan 41

M Arora lbw b Khadka 20

M Dharmichand st Chhetri b B Regmi 3

R Hussien run out 2

S Janjua b Vishvakarma 15

P Raja not out 16

M Shoib b S Regmi 14

J Manoj-Kumar c Chaudhary b S Regmi 0

Extras: 8 (lb3, w4, nb1)

Total: 164 (47.5 Overs)

FoW: 1-29, 2-35, 3-58, 4-93, 5-97, 6-102,

7-119, 8-145, 9-164

Nepal bowling: Das 3-0-13-0, Alam 3-0-11-0,

S Regmi 8.5-0-28-4, Gauchan 10-0-29-1,

B Regmi 10-1-33-2, Rahul 10-1-42-1,

Khadka 3-1-5-1