Rain plays spoilsport but hosts advance as group toppers
Kathmandu, April 29
Nepal advanced to the final of the ACC Premier Cup after the semi-final match against Kuwait ended in a no result after a total of 50 overs here at the TU Stadium today.
In a match reduced to 28-over-a-side due to persistent rain, Nepal posted 281-9 riding on half centuries from skipper Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla. Karan KC then completed a five-wicket haul to reduce Kuwait to 37-6 in 8.3 overs before rain stopped play.
As the match could not resume, it was declared as 'no result' and Nepal made it to final by virtue of finishing as group winners in league stage.
Invited to take first strike, Nepal openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh made a flying start putting up 77 runs inside 11 overs. Nepal lost three wickets - Bhurtel, Sheikh, and Bhim Sharki (one) - in the space of three runs to be 80-3.
Bhurtel scored 39-ball 43 with the help of seven fours and a six, while Sheikh hit a four and three sixes his 31 off 28 balls.
Paudel and Malla then took control of the match with a 109-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Malla departed after scoring a quick fire 57 off 44 balls that included four each boundaries and sixes.
Nepal added 92 runs in the last 13.3 overs, with skipper Paudel leading from front, to post a big total on the board.
Paudel missed the century by six runs after he was dismissed for 94 off 95 balls that included seven fours and three sixes. Aarif Sheikh scored run-a-ball 19 with the help of two fours and a six, while Sompal Kami struck one each four and six in his 11-ball 13.
Karan KC destroyed Kuwait innings with a five-wicket haul. He started it in the fifth ball of the innings before Sompal Kami reduced Kuwait to 2-2. KC then took next four wickets to put Kuwait under tremendous pressure at 37-6 inside 8.3 overs. But Nepal's march towards comprehensive victory was halted by rain and the match was declared as no result.
Nepal will face the United Arab Emirates in Monday's final after the UAE defeated Oman by two runs under DLS method in another semi-final match at the Mulpani grounds. UAE were bowled out for 236 runs in 49.2 overs, while Oman had reached 190- 6 in 43 overs before rain stopped the play. The match was the first One Day International at the Mulpani grounds after newly-constructed venue received ODI status from the International Cricket Council.
The winners of the ACC Premier Cup will earn 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.
Also, the top three teams of the ACC Premier Cup will qualify for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Nepal have been placed in Group A along with 'A' teams from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while another finalists UAE found 'A' teams from Bangladesh and Afghanistan as their opponents along with the third-placed team of the Premier Cup, which is yet to be finalised.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
