In its last and fifth league match of the tournament, Nepal annihilated Italy by 8 wickets whereas in the other match host Bermuda stunned the USA by 5 wickets, placing Nepal in the second position in the standings behind Uganda, who was already qualified before its last match against Oman. [break]
Uganda topped the standings accumulating eight points from four wins and a loss, while Nepal, USA and Bermuda, who all have equal six points, finished second, third and fourth on better net rate. Nepal’s run rate is 0.715, the USA’s 0.456 and Bermuda’s -0.682.
Hadn’t the home side defeated USA, Nepal’s qualification would had been an impossibility as it had lost its first two matches against the USA and Uganda. Oman, who stunned Uganda by 7 wickets in the last match, is placed fifth with two wins and three losses, while win-less Italy is at the bottom on the points table. Both of them have been relegated to the Division Four.
Winning the toss and sending Italy to take strike first in St David’s Cricket Club ground, Nepal restricted the opponent side to 127/9 in 50 overs, with tight bowling and raced to the small target losing only two wickets in just 14.5 overs.
Shakti Gauchan sent Italy opener H Patrizi (4) back to the pavilion in 7.2 overs, while another opener A Northcote (10) fell to Sanjam Regmi shortly. Italy lost its third wicket when Basanta Regmi had D Crowley (3) caught by Gauchan in 13.5 overs with just 22 runs on board.
Then Rahul Vishwakarma, who was drafted into the team first time in the tournament, came with his man of the match performance, taking three key wickets, P Petricola (31), C Sandri (39) and A Banora (2).
With Nepal strangulating Italy innings thus restricting free scoring of runs, the whole side finally got wrapped up for 127. Apart from Vishwakarma, Sanjam Regmi took three wickets, while Gauchan remained the most economic Nepali bowler with figures 10-2-15-2.
Nepal got off to a quick run chase with Subash Khakurel and Pradip Airee sharing an 87-run opening stand. Khakurel hit 47 off just 35 balls, with four fours and two sixes, while Airee made unbeaten 42 of 43 balls with four fours and a six.
Skipper Paras Khadka who came at No 3 played an 8-ball cameo of 22 including three fours and a six while his deputy Gyanendra Malla remained not out on 10 off only two balls.
In the other match played at National Stadium at Hamilton, the USA who won the toss and elected to bat first, posted a challenging 220/9 in 50 overs, with its opener A Dodson, hitting a composed 50, and later NC McGarrell, who in the past played Test cricket for the West Indies, scoring a quickfire of 45 off 43 balls, with four fours and a six.
To many´s disbelief, seemingly less favorite Bermuda chased down the target with ease for the loss of five wickets in 44.4 overs with man of the match C Douglas making a brilliant 89 of 75 balls that also included nine fours and three sixes. S Outerbridge and D Hemp chipped in with 37 runs each.
Elsewhere, Oman registered an upset win over the favorite Uganda, registering a seven-wicket win. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Uganda was 163/9 in 50 overs. In reply, the Gulf side reached target in 39 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
For Oman, man of the match Zeeshan Siddiqui hit a gritty 69 off 120 balls including eight fours and a six in a 110 run third wicket stand with V Wategaokar who made 47 off 66 balls with four fours and a six, while beating the African nation that had been undefeated so far in the tournament.
Nepal will play Uganda in the final Sunday night.
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