Nepal loses final warm-up match in Ireland

UAE defeats Nepal by 20 runs

KATHMANDU, July 7: Nepali cricket team's disappointing run continued on Tuesday as well, as it lost rain-hit second and last warm-up match of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers against the United Arab Emirates by 20-runs on D method in Belfast, Ireland. The Qualifiers will begin from Thursday. Nepal will take on USA in its opening match on Friday.

The team, which left for Europe with the aim of clinching title of the Qualifiers, faced 3-1 series defeat against the Netherlands in a four-match T20I series. The first warm-up match between Nepal and Oman on Monday was washed out due to rain.

On Tuesday, electing to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal managed only 84 runs losing seven wickets in the rain-hit match reduced to 18-overs.

However, the rain forced to call an end of the UAE innings at the end of 14th over with 81/2 on board. As per the second D calculation, the UAE was declared winner by 20 runs with the score.

Middle order Sharad Vesawkar who remained unbeaten on 38 runs off 37 balls was the only batsman for Nepal to come up with a remarkable score in batting. He hit two fours and a six. Besides Vesawkar, vice-captain Gyanendra Malla (13 runs-28 balls) and Pradeep Airee (13 runs-19 balls) were the other batsmen to reach double digit figures as Nepal lost other batsmen too cheaply. Openers Subash Khakurel and Sagar Pun departed with only one run in their name.

The UAE bowlers ripped up Nepali innings from the very beginning as Mohammad Naveed sent Subash in the fourth ball of first over. Sagar Pun surrendered in the second over against the UAE bowler Manjula Guruge, who also claimed skipper Paras Khadka (5) and Pradeep.

Tail-enders Rajesh Pulami (1) and Binod Bhandari (0) also failed to deliver when Nepal needed them most. Sompal Kami remained not out on seven runs.

The highest partnership for Nepal was between Sharad and Pradeep as they shared 32-runs stand for the seventh wicket.

Opener Amjad Ali (23) and Uair Ali (16) were batting for the UAE when match was stopped following the rain. The other opener Faizan Asif (24) and Mohammad Shahzad (13) added valuable runs for the UAE.

Jitendra Mukhiya and Sagar Pun took one wicket each for Nepal.

The results have also piled pressure on Team Nepal which finished third in the last editions of qualifier held in the UAE in 2013 and qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 held in Bangladesh last year.

However, Coach Pubudu Dassanayake has been claiming that his side will come up with better performance and results in the Qualifiers. But the results and performance ahead of the Qualifiers have cast serious doubts over his claims since Nepal will open its campaign of the Qualifier taking on USA on Friday.

The Qualifier will be jointly organized by Ireland and Scotland from July 9-26. Nepal is pitted in group A alongside with favorite Ireland, USA, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Namibia and Jersey. The winner of two groups will directly book ticket to the 2016 World Twenty20 in India. Similarly, four teams among second to fourth placed side of either group will vie for the remaining four spots for the final of the shortest version of World Cup.

Nepali skipper ParasKhadka reacting after being bowled by ManjulaGuruge of the UAE in warm-up match in Ireland on Tuesday. Photo Courtesy ICC/Sportsfile