After scoring a lowly 162/9 in 50 overs in a jam-packed TU Cricket Ground, Nepal neither succeeded in defeating the USA nor making them win taking more than 38 overs -- a point initially calculated safe for Nepal to reach the finals. [break]
The 15,000-odd spectators began moving out when the USA reached 150/5 in 32 overs after hitting Basanta Regmi for three sixes in an over. They also threw plastic bottles and stone pebbles on the ground forcing the umpires to suspend the game for 30 minutes.
The game resumed with the USA getting a revised target of 157 in 46 overs. USA needed nine more balls to reach the revised total.
The organizing International Cricket Council (ICC) only confirmed the net run-rate a couple of hours after the match was concluded. Nepal qualified for the finals ahead of Singapore, who chased Jersey´s 192 in 26 overs in an attempt to improve their run rate, by 0.004.
Had the USA beaten Nepal two balls earlier, in 33.1 overs, Singapore would have gone through to the final along with the USA. If crowd disturbance had not reduced the USA target, Nepal would probably have missed out.
USA troubled Nepal early after Paras Khadka won the toss and elected to bat first. Nepal were down to 80/6 in 31.2 overs with Kevin Darlington and Orlando Baker picking two wickets each.
Nepal included Anil Mandal at the expense of former captain Binod Das, who was dropped for the first time since he debuted for the national side, but that did not improve Nepal´s opening batting. Dipendra Chaudhary, Anil, Shakti Gauchan, Paras Khadka, Sharad Vesawkar and Mahesh Chhetri failed to score big.
If Nepal reached an honorable total, it was because Gyanendra Malla and Mehboob Alam, dropped down the order, partnered 62 runs. But both of them were out on a wrong time, in the 45th over.
Mehboob was run-out after making 38 off 44 balls with two fours and a six while Gyanendra completed a half-century before being adjudged leg-before off Lennox Cush.
Nepal needed acceleration at the end but US bowlers prevented that. Darlington, the leading wicket-taker, took another to finish at 3/23.
USA´s reply did not begin on a high-note as Mehboob picked Baker early and introduction of spinners slowed down the run-rate temporarily.
US batsmen attacked spinners in a way they have been not attacked in recent history and the formidable spin bowling tumbled - the highlight of which was Sushil Nadkarni´s three sixes off Basanta.
Captain Steve Massiah contributed with a calm 42 while former Indian U-19 player Nadkarni stormed an unbeaten 57 in 59 balls with three fours and four sixes. Thyagarajan contributed with an unbeaten 18.
For Nepal, Sanjam Regmi, Basanta and Rahul Bishwakarma each took a wicket for Nepal.
“We could not take wickets in the right time while USA batted well,” Paras commented after the match. “Losing Gyanendra and Mehboob in an over turned the match.”
He was disappointed. “I can´t exactly explain what happens to us as luck does not seem to be on our side in crucial matches,” he added.
Coach Roy Dias said the team failed to put enough runs on the board to defend.
US captain Massiah said they cashed in on the weakness of Nepal. “I knew their inability to play the pace and exploited it,” he said.
He said that the crowd were fantastic and said that it was natural for them to want Nepal to win.
Crowd plays spoilsport
A group of hooligans disrupted the cricket match between Nepal and the US on Friday at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur hurling stones at the players.
As the US were chasing the small total of 162 runs and trying to make it in the least possible overs, Nepal´s fate of qualification for the division 4 was swinging either side. As they were not sure about what results would actually take Nepal to the final, they were restless.
In the meantime, Nepali spinner Basanta Regmi started bowling the 32nd over from the Chovar end of the ground. US batsman Sushil Nadkarni struck three consecutive sixes to Basanta.
This highly infuriated the restless audience, and a few hooligans among them started hurling stones at Nepali players at different fielding positions. The incident interrupted the match for at least half-an-hour.
The police took control of the situation and the match resumed slicing four overs and revising the target.
The hooliganism of the crowd generates suspicion over Nepal´s ability to host international cricket tournament.
However, the tournament host manager Pawan Agrawal hopes that the ICC will consider the situation and problem. "Such incidents are not new to cricket. As we have only open grounds, we have security limitations and I hope that ICC will take all these things into consideration," said Agrawal, member of the Cricket Association of Nepal.
He appealed to the audience to maintain their cool. "A real cricket fan stays together with the team not only in the ups but also in the downs. I hope our audience understands cricketing culture and cooperates with the organizers in the final match on Saturday," said Agrawal.
The Nepal Police kept their calm while handling the situation. "We can´t provide 100 percent security assurance in such open ground and we can´t take action since it may lead to a stampede or increase casualty," said Inspector Binod Kharel, who was commanding officer at the venue.
"The security provision was good and we can´t blame security for this incident. Until and unless the audience learns sporting culture and manner, we can´t do anything," said Kharel, who is also a former football player for the country.
Jersey, Fiji relegated
At BSAM Ground, Singapore did everything they could to qualify for the finals. They recorded their fourth win in the tournament beating Jersey with an attacking display of batting.
It was Buddika Mendis who performed all-round in the win. He scored an unbeaten 85 as Singapore romped home chasing 192 in 26 overs with seven wickets remaining.
Jersey started well with Matt Hugue scoring 52 and middle-order batsmen - Ryan Driver (31), Samuel de la Haye (38) and Peter Gough (32) - contributing. But they were dismissed in the 49th over with Mendis taking three wickets.
Chetan Suryawanshi hit 40 off 22 balls before Ben Stevens grabbed three quick wickets. Munish Arora (unbeaten 45) partnered Mendis for an unbeaten 96 runs as Jersey ended their campaign in disappointment and relegation to Division 6 along with Fiji.
At IOE, Bahrain registered their second successive victory to remain in Division 5. They crushed Fiji by 95 runs. Fiji were also relegated to Division 6.
Bahrain put up 276 runs in limited 50 overs losing their 9 wickets. Tahir Dar topscored the side with 54 runs.
In reply, Fiji were all out for 181 in 39.3 overs. Man-of-the-match Tahir Dar gave an all-round performance and claimed four wickets for the winning side.
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