Nepal has lost out to USA in the second warm-up match, in the run up to the World T20 qualifiers that begins on Friday in UAE.
USA defeated Nepal by 5 wickets, chasing down the target of 130 runs, with two balls to spare.
USA began the chase of 130-run target well, putting up 30 runs, before Steven Taylor was out caught by Sharad Vesawkar off Amrit Bhattarai’s bowling, in the third over. Elmore Hutchinson scored the highest 33 runs for USA, as Timroy Ellen scored 31 off 24 deliveries towards the end.
For Nepal, Sagar Pun took two wickets for 25 runs, as Shakti Gauchan took one, giving away 16 runs in his 4-over spell. But that could not stop the USA getting past the target.
Earlier, Nepal elected to bat, after winning the toss at Abu Dhabi Cricket Ground and put up 129 for 7. Team Nepal lost wickets on regular intervals and had half of the team back in pavilion by the 15th over, for 86 runs. For Nepal, vice-captain Gyanendra Malla scored 36 off 38 deliveries. The target of 120 plus was possible largely due to Sharad Vesawkar, who scored 26 off 19 deliveries, including a six. Binod Bhandari scored 22. Anil Mandal scored 9 off three deliveries – including a six – in the last over, as he came in to bat after the loss of 7th wicket. Skipper Paras Khadka could only manage 6 runs off 10 balls.
Mohammed Ghous was the pick of the bowlers for USA, with two scalps.
Nepal opens its World T20 qualifiers campaign against Denmark on Friday. Along with Denmark, Nepal is pitted against Afghanistan, Scotland, The Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Kenya and Bermuda in Group B of the qualifiers. Similarly, Ireland, Canada, the UAE, Namibia, Hong Kong, Uganda, the USA and Italy make up Group A. The top six teams of the qualifiers will secure berth in the finals to be held in 2014.