Nepal registers 2nd win as Uganda qualifies

Nepal overcame the Oman bowling attack to achieve its second victory of the ICC World Cricket League Division 3, defeating Oman by 28 runs at the National Sports Stadium in Bermuda.

Sent into bat, Nepal overcame the loss of two early wickets to post 160 from its 50 overs.  Gyanendra Malla (34), captain Paras Khadka (28), Sharad Vesawkar (27) and Binod Bhandari (35) brought the score to 146 for seven, but the Oman bowling attack smothered the tail end, who only managed to add eight runs for the last three wickets.

Munis Ansari was the pick of the Oman bowlers, taking three for 27, while Lalcheta picked up two.

Oman captain Vaibhav Wategaonkar (27) again led the run chase, while Ajay Lalchata (24) and Sultan Ahmed (19) contributed patient knocks. However, the skipper’s return to the pavilion sparked a batting collapse, with the loss of four wickets in four overs leaving Oman balanced precariously at 118 for eight.  Thirty-nine year old Hemal Metha added 10 runs before Oman was dismissed for 132 runs.  Basant Regmi and Sanjam Regmi took two wickets apiece, while teammate Malla was adjudged man of the match.

Gyanendra Malla receives Man of the Match award

Nepal’s skipper was pleased with his team’s performance on a tough wicket.  “We were 20 – 25 runs short, looking at the wicket, but the wicket was not that easy.  With our bowling attack though, we thought 160 was defendable,” said Khatdka

Khadka remained positive for Nepal’s final group match, which will be against Italy.  “We still have one more game to go, and if results fall in our favor, we still have a slight chance of making it to the next round. So fingers crossed that everything goes well, and we should be doing ok,” he added.

Oman captain Vaibhav Wategaonkar felt his team let chances slip through its fingers. “It was an achievable target, but again the same thing has happened – we didn’t bat well.  The batsmen were struggling to get the runs,” he said.

Nepal now moves to third on the ladder, while Oman drops to fifth.

Uganda qualifies

Meanwhile, Uganda remained undefeated in the tournament and secured a position in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014, as well as Sunday’s final, after defeating USA by 82 runs at St David’s Ground.

In a clash of the two leading teams of the tournament, Uganda elected to bat and set a slow and steady pace to reach 175.  In response, USA struggled to build any lasting partnerships, and USA was all out for 93 in forty overs.

Uganda now moves above the USA to lead the competition, and is assured of a spot in Sunday’s final, as well as a position in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014.

In other matches, host Bermuda defeated Italy by 60 runs at Somerset CC to record its second victory of the tournament.

Points table after round four: