NAGOYA, Sept 26: Nepal’s wait for another win ended in rain, but not before they had done enough to top Group A and secure a quarterfinal berth at the 20th Asian Games on Saturday.
After Nepal posted 150 runs at Korogi Athletic Park, persistent rain prevented Japan from beginning their innings, forcing the match to be abandoned and the points to be shared.
The result sent Nepal through as group winners. They will face Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal on September 29, while Japan were eliminated.
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Nepal had entered the match on the back of a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Friday, while Japan had lost their opening game to Afghanistan. Nepal’s victory over the Test nation had put them in a strong position to advance.
Nepal looked set for another win after posting a challenging total in the rain-shortened 15-over contest. Middle-order batters Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam led the charge with aggressive half-centuries.
Sundeep scored 57 off 32 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Lokesh smashed an unbeaten 52 off just 22 balls, hitting six sixes and a four.
Nepal were struggling at 84/4 after 9.6 overs before Lokesh and Sundeep changed the momentum with a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 25 balls.
Nepal, who batted first after losing the toss, lost opener Kushal Bhurtel for four in the third over. They were 7/1 after 2.2 overs before Aasif Sheikh and Sundeep added 50 runs for the second wicket off 38 balls.
Aasif, who was given a life earlier in his innings, was dismissed for 21 off 33 balls, hitting one four and one six. Japan also struggled in the field, dropping four catches.
Reo Sakurano Thomas, Ibrahim Takahashi, Jake Kasuda-Narin and Declan Suzuki took one wicket each for Japan.
Afghanistan will face India in the quarterfinals. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the top four ICC-ranked Asian teams, advanced directly to the quarterfinals.
