Nepal Suffers Narrow Defeat Against Oman

Nepal narrowly fell short against Oman in their final group match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Final at the TU International Cricket Ground on Thursday. Oman won the toss and opted to bat, scoring 145 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Nepal, in response, fought valiantly but could only manage 140 runs while losing nine wickets in 20 overs.

Captain Zeeshan Maqsood was the standout performer for Oman, scoring 32 runs off 26 balls, while Naseem Khushi, Pratik Athavale, and Ayaan Khan contributed with 25, 24, and 18 runs, respectively. Shakeel Ahmed remained unbeaten with 22 runs off 17 balls. Nepal’s Karan KC was the pick of the bowlers, taking three crucial wickets, while Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane also chipped in with two wickets each. Abinash Bohara and Gulsan Jha each secured a wicket.

Despite a promising start with opener Kushal Bhurtel scoring 26 runs off 18 balls, Nepal’s top order faltered. They found themselves at 56/4 in 8.1 overs. However, the No.8 batsman, Bibek Yadav, played a heroic innings, nearly winning the game for Nepal by scoring an impressive 39 runs from 24 balls, which included three consecutive sixes in the first three balls of the 20th over. Karan KC contributed 15 runs from 11 balls, while Sompal Kami, Rohit Poudel, and Sandeep Jora added 12 runs each.

Oman’s Bilal Khan shone with the ball, taking three crucial wickets, while Shakeel Ahmed, Mehran Khan, and Aqib Ilyas secured two wickets each. Captain Zeeshan Maqsood also made a valuable contribution by taking one wicket.

Both teams, Oman and Nepal, have already secured their spots in the semifinals, which are scheduled for Friday. Nepal is set to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the semifinal at the Mulpani International Cricket Ground, with the knowledge that a victory will earn them a place in the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup, to be held in the United States and the West Indies next year. Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting this exciting showdown.