Cricket is a game of uncertainty; a proof of the statement was seen at the IOE Ground on Wednesday where Nepal pulled a stunning one-run victory over Oman to book a berth in the semifinal of the ACC U-15 Elite Cup 2007.
Oman was set for an upset victory over two-time defending champions with captain Gaurav Honavar leading with example. They required 18 runs of last five overs with two wickets in hand; including that of Honavar who was playing flawlessly and had already completed a half-century.
They got 16 in four overs losing a wicket and went into last over needing two runs for victory and Honavar, at 79 runs off 116 balls with 10 fours, was on strike. Nepal’s captain Prithu Baskota was on trouble as he was left without strike bowler.
Nepal was left with no other choice than using a spinner. Bhuwan Karki, who had given away 24 runs in 7 overs without any success was given the ball. Nobody knew at the time that he was going to bowl the six balls that he will cherish lifelong.
Honavar missed first two, didn’t want a single in third, defended the fourth and missed two more as Bhuwan somersaulted on the pitch in celebration along with hundreds of supporters. He bowled brilliantly in such a condition to become the supporters’ man of the match.
The man of the match, however, went to pacer Sunil Sunar – the opening bowler who was the architect of the win with four wickets in eight overs for 30 runs.
Sunar bowled Karthik Balasubranian and Venketesh Marghshyam early after Pradeep Airee got rid of opener Kunal Pandya in the second over as Oman went down to 21/3. Opener Vatsal Mehta was still there and he accompanied his captain for a partnership that was the highlight of the match. The pair scored 90 runs for fourth wicket with flawless batting.
Rochak Bhatta, who got his on his knees, went back to bowl as sixth bowler and got Mehta on 47 as he mistimed a flick to Bhuwan. Nikhil Kuruvilla (14) added 25 runs with Honavar before Sunil trapped him plumb. Sunil completed his victims bowling Majid Hussian for two to make it 141/6.
Krishna Sen then got Saud Haroon Khan for one why he skied one for wicket-keeper Akash Pariyar. Karun Pandya scored five before he was trapped leg-before by Pradeep leaving Oman at 170/8 at the end of 34th over. Honavar remained unbeaten on 79 and was at top of bowlers except in the last over.
Earlier, Oman had won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. Sagar Pun failed once again despite scoring a four on the first delivery. He was run out while Akash Pariyar (15) too didn’t stay long leaving the task of stabilizing the innings to captain Prithu Baskota.
Prithu and Bibek Dali shouldered the responsibility and partnered 70 runs before Bibek skied one off Karun Pandya. His 31 off 54 balls with two fours and a six ensured Nepal reach 92/3 from 22/2. Prithu stayed a bit longer but was out trying to step out to Nikhil Kuruvilla. He made 30 of 68 balls with four boundaries.
Once the foundation was made, the remaining batsmen tried to accelerate the innings. Sameer Nepal got 32 of 36 balls with two fours and a six whereas Nischal Singh Chaudhary scored 22 off 23 deliveries.
Bhuwan Karki (10 off 11) and Sunil Sunar (10 off 12) too contributed a few runs as Nepal concluded its 40 overs innings at 188/9. For Oman, Saud Haroon Khan took three wickets while Karan grabbed a couple.