Nepal’s World T20 Cup dream came to an end as Nepali batsmen faltered once again on Tuesday in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers, this time against Canada.
In a complex equation of run rates, Nepal had a chance to qualify for the preliminary final, had it met the 102-run target in 12.3 overs. However, Nepali batting line-up crumbled down and was all out for 83 runs in 18.2 overs to hand over an 18-run victory to Canada.
After the defeat, Nepal finished fifth in Group A of the tournament. Nepal will now take on Kenya on Thursday in the seventh place play-off semifinal. Kenya finished fourth in Group B.
Canada won the toss and elected to bat at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. As Nepal had to chase the target within 12 to 13 overs to maintain its net run rate, Nepali bowlers put their heart and soul into restricting Canada to the lowest possible score.
Skipper Paras Khadka and Chandra Saud took two wickets each while Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi claimed a wicket each. Two Canadian batsmen were short of the crease as Canada put up 101/8 in the allotted 20 overs. Jimmy Hansra scored an unbeaten 29 runs of 34 balls. Rizwan Cheema and Tyson Gordon struck 15 runs each.
Shakti Gauchan appeals for a LBW during Nepal's match against Canada at the ICC World T20 Qualifiers on Tuesday in the UAE. Photo: ICC
In its attempt to chase the 102-run target in 12.3 overs, Nepal opened the innings with Anil Mandal and Pradeep Airee. They put up a 21-run partnership until the completion of the third over but Mandal (15 runs) was bowled by Junaid Siddiqui in the first ball of the fourth over.
Nepal changed its regular batting order sending Prithu Baskota up the order and bringing Paresh Lohani down the order. However, every experiment failed. Airee was run out after scoring eight runs. Prithu Baskota and Paras Khadka added two runs each before returning to the pavilion. Basanta Regmi, who was promoted to No 5 in the batting order above Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla and Lohani, could not open his account. Malla and Lohani added six runs each.
The loss of wickets at regular intervals dashed the possibility of meeting the target in 12.3 overs. Nepal, then, tried to chase the target within 20 overs. Sharad Vesawkar scored 28 runs off 35 balls and Shakti Gauchan added 10 runs off 9 balls. However, Nepali batsmen failed to chase the target and were all out for 83 runs in 18.2 overs. Sanjam Regmi remained unbeaten on five runs while Chandra Saud added a run.
Junaid Siddiqui inflicted maximum damage on Nepal as his bowling figure was 4-0-13-3. Man-of-the-match Jimmy Hansra, Zahid Hussain and Harvir Singh Baidwan claimed a wicket each. Four Nepali batsmen — Airee, Vesawkar, Gauchan and Saud — were short of the crease.