KATHMANDU, MAY 02
Nepal has emerged as the champions of the ACC Premier Cup after beating United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the finals of the tournament at the Tribhuvan University (TU) International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Yesterday, the hosts, Nepal had won the toss and decided to field first. UAE had managed to put up 106 runs in 27.3 overs at the loss of nine wickets before the downpour stalled the game for the second time on the day.
The match between hosts, Nepal and visiting UAE resumed from the same point as scheduled at 9:00 am. Nepal was able to bowl out all of UAE cheaply for 117 runs.
Nepali, left-arm-orthodox, Lalit scalped four wickets in his 7.1 overs while only giving away 14 runs. Similarly, both Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC etched two wickets to their name. In addition, Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha too made valuable contributions by taking one wicket each.
For UAE, only Asif Khan was able to reach to a respectable total after making 46 runs off 54 deliveries.
Chasing the 118 run target set by UAE, Gulshan Jha held his nerves to see Nepal cross the finish line after smashing 67 runs that came of 84 deliveries. Similarly, Bhim Sharki, who made 36 runs (off 72 balls), and Gulshan Jha remained not out in their batting innings.
After initial panic, all three batsmen including Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh and skipper Rohit Paudel were limited to single digit scores of one run each for Bhurtel and Paudel and 8 runs for Sheikh.
Nepal registered a seven wicket victory after comfortably chasing the target in 30.3 overs in the midst of passionate Nepali fans that braved rain and overcast conditions to see their team through.
Rohan Mustafa of UAE completed his 10-over quota in which he took two Nepali wickets that included the likes of Bhurtel and Paudel while only giving away 13 runs.
Gulshan Jha was awarded the man of the match in view of his commendable contibutions in both the bowling and batting departments.
Similarly, star leggie Sandeep Lamichhane was awarded the player of the series for his notable performace throughout the Premier Cup. Lamichhane has played five matches in the ACC Premier Cup bowling a total of 37.1 overs in which he has managed to take 13 wickets.
Tuesday had been kept as reserve day in case the final was hampered due to rain. Since the match could not be continued on a water-lodged wicket, the match referee Sarika Prasad in line with the guidelines for the tournament had announced to move the play to reserve day.
READ MORE: Rain plays spoilsport; Nepal vs UAE finals of ACC Premier Cup to resume on Tuesday
Nepal snatched a historic victory as the winners of the ACC Premier Cup are to earn a berth in the Asia Cup where they will be grouped with India and Pakistan in Group A. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are in Group B of the event slated for September in Pakistan.
However, with the recent development of Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) rejection of the Pakistan Cricket Borad's (PCB) hybrid model proposal, the Asia Cup which was slated to be organized in Pakistan this September is in jeopardy.
MUST READ: Fears of Asia Cup cancellation looms in face of BCCI's rejection of PCB's hybrid model proposal
Also, the top three teams of the ACC Premier Cup which includes Nepal, UAE and Oman have qualified for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
