Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 25

Nepal failed to overcome a 144-run target and were knocked out of the ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Division II Cricket Tournament by Fiji, which dashed their hopes of playing in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies through ICC Trophy 2005.

Nepal missed a chance to play in the ICC Trohhy to be held in Ireland, when they failed to qualify for the ACC Trophy final held in Malaysia six month ago. Nepal skipper Binod Das won the toss and invited Fiji to bat at Bayumas Oval Grounds, Kuala Lumpur, and his bowlers backed his decision by restricting Fiji to 143 for eight in 50 overs, with left arm spinner Shakti Gauchan being the chief destroyer. But the batting did not go as planned, when the top seven batsmen were out after adding just 63 runs. After wicketkeeper Manoj Baisya, whom the selectors had described as ‘potential run-scorer’ fell for a duck, the responsibility came on the shoulders of skipper Das.

Das along with No 11 Raj Kumar Pradhan gave some hopes and were inching towards victory with 63-run partnership but Das could not keep his nerves and Nepal fell four runs short. The total included 45 extra runs. Earlier, Fiji started well with a 51-run opening partnership, before opener Seel Tuiwai was run out. Shakti then dismissed next three batsmen and Das struck once to have Fiji reeling at 99/5. The last five wickets added 44 runs.

Gauchan returned with 4-46, and Das took 1-20 off 10 overs each. In reply, Nepal started badly losing opener Paresh Lohani for five runs, while other eight batsmen failed to reach the double figure mark. Das top-scored with 45 off 90 balls which included five fours, while Pradhan hit two fours in his unbeaten 22 off 57 balls. For Fiji, man of the match Kitiano Tavo took 5-28, while Neil Maxwell and Joesfa Dubea claimed two wickets each.

SCOREBOARD

Fiji:

S Tuiwai run out 24

I Navatu lbw b Gauchan 39

N Maxwell c Paras b Shakti 0

J Kida b Shakti 12

W Tukana run out 0

J Dabea b Das 19

I Cakacaka run out 4

J Seuvou not out 15

M Kamikamica b Shakti 14

K Tavo not out 1

Extras: 15

Total: 143/8 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-55, 2-66, 3-74, 4-80, 5-99, 6-105, 7-113, 8-137

Nepal Bowling: M Alam 9-0-19-0, B Das 10-0-20-1, D Chand 7-0-25-0, P Khadka 4-0-11-0, S Gauchan 10-0-46-4, RK Pradhan 10-0-17-0

Man of the match: Kitione Tavo (Fiji)

NEPAL

P Lohani c Maxwell b Tavo 5

M Alam c wk b Tavo 4

K Chaugain b Tavo 4

P Khadka c Maxwell b Tavo 0

S Gauchan b Tavo 9

B Regmi lbw b Maxwell 0

U Shrestha lbw b Khan 4

B Das c Tukana b Maxwell 45

M Vaisya lbw b Dabea 0

D Chand b Dabea 2

RK Pradhan not out 22

Extras: 45

Total: 140 (40.4 overs)

FoW: 1-5, 2-10, 3-10, 4-23, 5-35, 6-36, 7-63, 8-65, 9-77

Fiji Bowling: K Tavo 10-1-28-5, I Khan 8-0-31-1, N Maxwell 7.4-1-25-2, J Sevoue 4-0-19-0, J Dabea 7-0-26-2, I Cakacaka 4-1-8-0