The left-arm orthodox bowler took 7/15 to reduce USA from 150/3 to 172 all out -- a score that Nepal surpassed in 46.5 overs losing five wickets to the delight of 15,000-odd fans at the TU Ground. [break]
It was a wonderful comeback for the youngest member of the team, who was sidelined for two years for suspicious activities during the 2008 Youth World Cup.
“I am very happy to be back after a long bad time,” an emotional Rahul said after receiving the man-of-the-match award. “I came back and performed. I had worked hard when I was missing tournaments.”
USA had a brilliant start, especially due to the contribution of captain Steve Massiah (55) and Orlando Baker (49), despite losing Lennox Cush early on. Their 91-run stand for the second wicket and 41 between Massiah and Sushil Nadkarni had put the visitors on the top.
Rahul bowled first four overs ´round the wicket´ without success and then switched to ´over the wicket´ to claim Massiah. Shakti Gauchan produced a spectacular diving catch for Rahul´s first wicket.
“There was turn on the pitch,” he said. “But the batsmen were playing easy and I decided to switch over the wicket. And, it was good for me.”Then onwards it was Rahul´s show. He took every remaining wicket in his 8.2 overs giving away 15 runs for seven wickets and the fourth best bowling performance for Nepal.
“Rahul changed the whole thing, it was a magical spell,” coach Roy Dias praised the 18-year-old. “It´s a wonder for a youngster like him to take seven wickets in a one-dayer.”
The youngster said he was not thinking about wickets. “I just wanted to bowl on the right spot,” he added as his proud parents, who had traveled from Butwal, watched him play.
Until the final, he was shadowed by other experienced spinners -- Basanta Regmi, Sanjam Regmi and Shakti Gauchan, but it was his day. Sanjam grabbed a wicket along with Binod Das.
“When we started we were placed well at 150/3 but then we lost the last seven wickets for 20 odd runs. That´s where all went wrong,” Massiah commented. “The spell Rahul bowled won the game for Nepal.”
In reply of the tricky total, Nepal began with Mahesh Chhetri and Anil Mandal, who had opened together for U-19 teams, and it proved a wise decision.
They partnered 85 runs in 22.5 overs giving Nepal the best start in the tournament. Anil was first out on 37 off 66 and Chhetri followed soon making 28 off 73.
Although the introduction of Tim Allen and Cush slowed down the run-rate, Nepal were well positioned to win the game. Gyanendra Malla scored unbeaten 28, Shakti 23 and Mehboob Alam unbeaten 17 with a six and a four to achieve the victory.
“They batted sensibly because 170 was always achievable,” Massiah commented. “The pitch was little slower when they batted. They adopted well, they are the deserving winners.”
Coach Dias said it was a high-class performance. “For the very first time, we got a very good start. It was very, very important,” he added.
USA coach Cleyton Lambart said Nepal outplayed them. “We were outplayed,” he said. “I think we gave them a fight towards the end. Once the openers got the start, it was an easy game for them.”
Nepal had previously won two triangulars involving Bhutan and the Maldives -- Emerging Nations Trophy -- but this is the first time they won a major tournament since the debut in international cricket in 1996.
ujjwal@myrepublica.com
Related story
"Harry Potter" triumphs with magical sweep at Olivier Awards
