Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal suffered a narrow five-run defeat against Oman in its final group match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Final at the TU International Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Asked to bat first after losing the toss, Oman managed to score 145 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Nepal, in response, scored 140 runs while losing nine wickets in 20 overs.
Both teams have already qualified for the semifinals scheduled for Friday.
Captain Zeeshan Maqsood was the top scorer for Oman with a 26-ball 32, while Naseem Khushi, Pratik Athavale, and Ayaan Khan contributed 25, 24, and 18 runs, respectively. Shakeel Ahmed remained not out with 22 runs off 17 balls.
Karan KC was the standout bowler for Nepal, taking three wickets, while Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane contributed with two wickets each. Abinash Bohara and Gulsan Jha also secured a wicket each.
Despite opener Kushal Bhurtel scoring 26 runs off 18 balls, Nepal’s top order struggled with the bat. Nepal slumped to 56/4 in 8.1 overs. The No.8 batsman, Bibek Yadav, who came to the crease after Sandeep Lamichhane’s dismissal in the 15.4 overs, nearly won the game for Nepal, scoring an impressive 39 runs from 24 balls, including three sixes in the first three balls of the 20th over. Karan KC contributed 15 runs from 11 balls, while Sompal Kami, Rohit Poudel, and Sandeep Jora scored 12 runs each.
Oman’s Bilal Khan was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Shakeel Ahmed, Mehran Khan, and Aqib Ilyas secured two wickets each. Captain Zeeshan Maqsood also took one wicket.
Nepal will meet UAE in the semifinal to be played at the Mulpani International Cricket Ground on Friday knowing that the victory will book its spot in ICC Men’s T20I World Cup to be played in the US and the West Indies next year.
