Winning the toss Oman opted to bat first and scored 101 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the five-over reduced match. Chasing the total of 102 runs, Nepal could manage to score 99 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 15 overs. [break]
Oman, led by former Nepal cricket coach Roy Luke Dias, started the innings well as it scored 31 runs for the first wicket. Seeshan Siddiqui was the first to fall in Oman´s innings with 22 runs off 12 balls that included two boundaries and a huge six. Oman continued to score runs despite the fall of wickets at regular intervals.
Jatinder Singh scored 20 runs off 22 balls with a boundary. Awal Khan slapped Mehboob Alam four consecutive sixes in the last over of the innings. Khan scored 18 runs off just 11 balls.
Alam was the successful bowler for Nepal as he grabbed four wickets in his three overs conceding 22 runs. Sanjam Regmi, Basanta Regmi and Rahul BK shared a wicket each.
Chasing the moderate total, Nepal could score only 99 runs off 15 overs. Nepal had a good opening stand with Subash Khakurel and Pradeep Aire scoring 38 runs for the first wicket. Aire was trapped Leg Before Wicket with a score of 20 off 22 balls that included four boundaries.
Another opener Khakurel scored 19 runs off 16 balls with a boundary and a six. After the fall of the openers, Nepali batsmen failed to score runs and lost wickets at regular intervals. Prithu Baskota scored 14 runs off 11 balls with a boundary and a six. Baskota was the only other batsman than the openers to reach the double digit figure.
Man-of-the-match awardee Aamir Khaleem grabbed three wickets for 11 runs while Hemal Mehta and Amir Ali shared two wickets each.
Nepali coach Pubudu Dassanayeke said that the team was lagging behind in batting despite having a low total on board. “Opening was good but the middle order batsmen failed to score runs. The wicket of skipper Paras Khadka and Prithu Baskota was crucial for us in the middle order,” said coach. He further added that being qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers is a great achievement for Nepal.
Talking about Nepali cricket, coach Dassanayake said that the prevalent cricket culture must be changed and there must be professionalism among the players. “We need more cricket players in the new format of the game as there are only limited players at present.”
Meanwhile, Nepali skipper Paras Khadka did not attend the presentation ceremony as in the match against Afghanistan. Fast bowler Amrit Bhattarai was also absent on the ground.
Oman coach Dias said that Nepali batsmen did not bat well in the match. “It feels great to win any match but I am feeling odd inside as Nepal is my second home,” said Dias, adding “Nepal needs to improve batting.”
In the ninth place playoff, Bhutan defeated Saudi Arabia in a last-ball thriller by a wicket. Bhutan registered its first win in the tournament while Saudi returned home without a win. In the two-over reduced match, Saudi won the toss and scored 119 runs losing five wickets. Rizwan Qayyum was the highest scorer with unbeaten 34 runs off 42 balls with two boundaries. Khawar Sohail was unbeaten in 30 runs 19 balls with five boundaries.
Barun Wakhley grabbed three wickets conceding 22 runs while Sonam Tobgay and Surpit Pradhan shared a wicket each.
Sonam Tobgay´s 27 runs off 29 balls and Surpit Pradhan´s quick-fire 24 runs off 17 balls guided Bhutan to the victory. Hammad Saeed grabbed three wickets for 13 runs. Khawar Sohail took two wickets while Hassan Malik and Kashif Shafiq took a wicket each.
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