Probably, American literary critic Richard Gilman´s saying goes well with Nepali cricket fans. International matches at the TU Cricket Ground are watched by thousands of spectators - something not common in lower ranked cricketing countries in the world. [break]
Ongoing ACC Twenty20 Cup is no different. Nepali fans gathered not only to cheer the home team but also to support teams whose performance was crucial for Nepal. They cheered Kuwait against Hong Kong on Wednesday and rooted for Saudi Arabia that was playing against UAE on Thursday.
After the UAE put up 168 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs, it had to restrict Saudi Arabia below 98 runs to qualify for the semifinal ahead of Nepal. Nepali fans, fully aware of the run rate factor, cheered each run taken by Saudi Arabia.
Although Saudi Arabia lost the match by 53 runs, Hammad Saeed became the darling hero for the Nepali fans as he smacked four boundaries and six sixes on his way to 63 runs off 38 balls and ensured Nepal´s progress to the semifinals.
Saeed opened Saudi Arabia innings along with Irfan Farooqi. Saeed was still limping because of an injury sustained on his right leg while bowling. He was unable to take quick singles and limped between the wickets. However, he struck towering sixes and majestic boundaries to win the heart of spectators.
Saudi Arabia was at 91 runs for 8 wickets in 16 overs. Saeed struck a four in the first ball of 17th over bowled by Rohan Mustafa. He hit next ball for a big six to take the score to 101/8 which meant Nepal´s qualification and celebrating crowd. Mustafa bowled him out on the very next ball.
After the match, both teams spent more than an hour at the ground for lunch but the crowd waited outside the main entrance to thank Saeed and his team. They presented Nepal´s national flag to Saeed and applauded Saudi Arabia until the team´s bus crossed the TU gate, some 500 meters away.
"The crowd was really good. I thought I was playing at home," said Saeed. "At the crease, I asked a UAE fielder about their chances of qualifying into the semifinal and he told me that they want to bowl us out below 100 runs. I told him ´let´s see´."
Nepali skipper Paras Khadka praised Saeed for his crucial knock. "We were in the hotel room praying," Khadka said. "Despite limping, Saeed batted well and set an example as a sportsperson," Khadka added.
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