Afghan jinx continued to haunt Nepal, as it failed to beat the arch-rivals again. Team Nepal lost to Afghanistan in the quarterfinals of 17th Asian Games Men’s cricket competition, by 8 runs, in Incheon, South Korea on Wednesday.
The loss meant that Nepal crashed out of the 17th Asian Games.
Chasing 120-run target set by Afghanistan, Nepal could only make 111 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs.
Except Binod Bhandari (48) and Gyanendra Malla (30), none of the batsmen spent much time on the crease for Nepal. For Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmad grabbed four Nepali wickets. Afghan skipper Mohammed Nabi gave away just 12 runs in his 4-over spell.
Nepal needed a solid start to upset the Afghan team but Nepali chase did not begin very well as Naresh Budhayer was run out in the second over itself, with just 10 on board. Subash Khakurel didn’t last long, becoming the first victim of Fareed Ahmed. Paras Khadka came in to bat his regular No 4 position, but could never get going and was stumped off Samullah Senawari in the 7th over. Paras had used up 13 deliveries for his single run. The score then read 30.
Gyanendra Malla came after the skipper’s fall and got the scoreboard moving with Binod Bhandari. They had a 54-run partnership and Nepali win looked likely. When Bhandari was out for 48 (off 40 deliveries), giving away a thin edge to the keeper off Fareed, Nepal needed 36 runs off 32 deliveries. But things changed quickly as Sharad Vesawkar – the next man in – was run out trying to steal a single as Fareed was appealing for a lbw. With two wickets in quick succession, Nepal lost the momentum.
The required run rate kept climbing and Nepali batsmen could not keep pace.
Earlier, Afghanistan had put up 119, as Nepali bowlers showed some consistency on a pitch that had variable bounce. Nepali bowlers took 9 of the Afghan wickets in 20 overs.
Mohammad Shahzad top scored with 42 runs for Afghanistan while Mohammad Nabi, Qaseem Khan, Samiullah Shenwari and Gulbadin Naib contributed 18, 12, 11,11 runs.
Shakti Gauchan (3 for 21) and Sagar Pun (3 for 24) took three wickets each while Sompal Kami and Basanta Regmi grabbed a wicket apiece.