Nepali national team finally saved the face edging Oman by a run in the last group match of the ACC Twenty20 Cup cricket tournament Wednesday. But despite the win, Nepal is out of the tournament failing to qualify for the semifinals as Afghanistan beat Malaysia to qualify ahead of Nepal.
Oman, coming into the match unbeaten and guaranteed spot in semifinal, elected to field first. Nepali openers gave a good start adding 56 runs before Mehboob Alam was bowled out Zeeshan nine runs shy of his half-century. Alam had scored 41 off just 21 balls with six fours and two sixes.
His partner Paresh Lohani (16) got out adding 17 runs with Paras Khadka and that broke the patience of Nepali batting lineup as Paras (16), Dipendra Chaudhary (3) follwed soon making it 83/4.
Lower-order got a few runs – especially Shakti Guachan batting at No 9 who got run-a-ball 17 including a six while Mahesh Chhetri (10), Basant Regmi (7) and Amir Akhtar (8) contributed a few to take Nepal past 120 for the first time. Nepal ended the innings at 140/8.
Nepal, which had to beat Oman handsomely and hope that Malaysia defeat Afghanistan heavily later, was staring at defeat as Oman needed eight runs of last over with three wickets in hands. Vice-captain Paras Khadka took two wickets off the last two balls – and three in the only over he bowled – as Oman was bowled out for 139.
Man-of-the-match Khadka had taken a wicket off the second ball of the over . Apart from Khadka, who conceded six runs in the only over he bowled, Rahul BK took three wickets, Alam two and Basant one.