Anil Mandal scored a century as Nepal continued its dream run with fifth victory in a row in the World Cricket League Division 4 to reach the final and qualify for the Division 3.
On rain-affected day, helped by Anil’s 113 Nepal scored 240 in 50 overs and restricted Denmark to 130 for 9 in 31 overs for a 25-run victory on D/L methods.
USA beat Singapore by 37 runs under D/L methods to confirm its place in the final prevailing over Denmark and Singapore with better net run-rate. All three teams finished with 3 wins each.
Anil Mandal scores a century against Denmark! Photo: ICC/Peter Lim
At Kinrara Academy, with the place in final only remaining formality, Nepal chose to bat first but lost Subash Khakurel, who had scored a century two days ago against USA, in the second ball.
Gyanendra Malla played freely before running himself out on 26 (35 balls, 4 fours) and captain Paras Khadka departed after making just 3 runs and Nepal was down at 50 for 3.
Anil and Sharad Vesawkar played patiently – batting slowly to repair the damage. They build their partnership in singles adding 89 runs in 22.2 overs. When Sharad was in 36th over, he had scored 27 off 66 balls without boundaries.
Before Sharad was out, Anil completed his half-century, in 90 balls, and launched into an attack belting 3 fours and 2 sixes to quickly reach 79 not out. With lower order, he reached his maiden 100, only fifth instance for Nepali batsmen, completing his second 50 runs in 27 balls
He was ultimately out on 113 off 134 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes. Basant Regmi (21 runs, 27 balls, a four), Binod Das (15 runs, 7 balls, 2 sixes) and Pradeep Airee chipped in a few useful runs as Nepal ended its innings at 240 all out in 50 overs with Sanjam Regmi getting out in the last ball for ‘obstructing the field’.
Denmark too began badly losing their best batsman, Pedersen in second over, but A Lambert anchored one end while watching his friends coming in, chipping a few runs and departing. At the conclusion of 25 overs, they were 77/3 with Lambert on 47 when rain stopped the play.
Denmark’s target was revised to 156 in 31 overs – needing 79 in 6 overs when play resumed. Lambert departed the first ball on resumption with off-spinner Sanjam getting his second wicket.
The runs and wickets flowed in but it was Nepal who prevailed as Denmark succumbed to the uphill task. They hit Binod Das for 12 runs in an over and Paras for 18 runs. Paras returned to bowl the last over when they needed 29 for victory and took 3 wickets to end the match.
Paras was pick of the bowler claiming 4 for 34 while Sanjam and Basant both claimed a couple of wickets each. Shakti Gauchan took a wicket as well.
Brief Scores: Nepal 240 in 50 overs (Anil Mandal 113, Sarad 27, Gyanendra 26, Basant 21, Binod 15, Pradeep 11) beat Denmark 130/9 in 31 overs (A Lambert 47, Paras 4/34, Sanjam 2/22, Basant 2/29) by 25 runs (D/L method). MoM: Anil Mandal