Mehboob Blaze Sets Biggest Win for Nepal

It was Mehboob Alam’s day at the TU Cricket Stadium today as Nepal raced to an amazing victory of an innings and 66 runs over Malaysia in the ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament match, to qualify for the ICC Inter-Continental Cup 2006.

Mehboob scored a century to help Nepal pile up 300/8 in 88.1 overs and took two wickets in the first over of the Malaysian second innings, in which they were bowled out for a paltry 102. Mehboob had taken two wickets yesterday to help bundle out Malaysia in its first innings for 132.

With the victory, Nepal added 30 points to its 57.5 points earned from it’s earlier three matches to go the top of the points table. Malaysia, who got 8.5 points, is in second position with a total of 79 points. UAE and Singapore, with a game remaining between them, have 70 and 52 points respectively.

If Singapore beat UAE in the last tie of the ACC FTCT, Nepal will win the title. Even a draw can give Nepal the trophy. The top three teams from the five-nation event qualify for the ICC Inter-Continental Cup.

Resuming on 114/4, Mehboob set the ground on fire with his cautious but powerful shots. He rarely played any risky shots and raced to his half-century in 47 balls. It took him 96 balls to complete the deserved century – the second only after Paresh Lohani’s 101 not out against Singapore in three-day matches, with four sixes and 12 boundaries.

He partnered vice-captain Shakti Gauchan for a 126-run partnership, the best for Nepal, in their two-hour stay at crease. Shakti, who scored 39, only contributed 20 runs in the partnership. “It was fantastic,” coach Roy Dias praised Mehboob’s innings. “He is the best all-rounder in the region.”

Mehboob said he concentrated on cautious batting after coach asked him for a century. “I now feel good about it,” Mehboob said.

Wicket-keeper Manoj Katuwal justified his comeback in the national team scoring an unbeaten 21 and partnering 50 runs with Dhirendra Chand for the eighth wicket. Dhirendra, displaying qualities of becoming a good all-rounder, scored 25. The two played a vital role in helping Nepal earn six whole points scoring 300 in the first innings.

Malaysia’s hopes for staying long, was wrecked by three early wickets. Mehboob trapped opener Rohan Selvaratnam with a beautiful incoming delivery on the first ball and got another wicket, two balls later when Somerset player Arul Suppiah drove straight to Paresh Lohani at mid-off.

To add to that, Binod Das struck on the first ball as Shaker Retnam half-heartedly tried to pull a rising delivery and top-edged. Manoj completed a simple catch. The notable contribution came from Eszrafiq Abdul Aziz (30) and M Krishnamurthi (27) but it was too difficult for Malaysia to resist Nepali bowling. Leg-spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan and Shakti Gauchan picked three wickets each.

“I am very happy – for the players, for Nepali cricket,” Dias said. “To win it in two days is great and it was a result of a great team effort.” Captain Binod Das took the win as a gift. “We were confident after beating UAE,” he said. “Luck favored us and we played good cricket.”

Malaysian coach Michael John Bailey praised Nepal’s game. “Nepal outplayed us in every department,” he told the Post. “They thoroughly deserved to win.”