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Outstanding bowling performances helped Nepal defeat Oman by 87 runs to advance to the ACC Premier Cup final.
In the semifinal held on Thursday at the Bayumas Cricket Oval Stadium in Malaysia, Nepal batted first and were all out for 147 runs.
However, the combined bowling efforts of Captain Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, and Dipendra Singh Airee led Nepal to victory.
Nepal bowled out Oman for just 60 runs in 28.1 overs.
In the final, Nepal will face the winner of the other semifinal between Hong Kong and UAE. Winning this tournament will secure Nepal’s qualification for the Asia Cup.
Poor Batting Performance
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Nepal set a modest target of 148 runs for Oman. However, Nepal itself was bowled out in 45.4 overs.
Openers Dev Khanal and Ashif Sheikh put on 23 runs for the first wicket.
Bashir Ahmad replaced Arjun Kamal in the team and was sent to open with Dev Khanal. However, neither managed to settle. Both were out when Nepal’s score was 26; Sheikh scored 11 and Khanal 13.
Left-handed batsman Ishan Pandey scored 1 run before being dismissed, while former captain Rohit Paudel managed 3 runs before returning to the pavilion. Paudel was out at 11.2 overs, with Nepal’s score at 36.
Dipendra Singh Airee and Bashir Ahmad then forged a strong partnership of 93 runs for the third wicket.
Bashir, who replaced Arjun Kamal, scored 47 runs while Airee contributed 51.
Gulshan Jha made seven runs and Karan KC added five, with Sandeep Lamichhane also chipping in a few runs.
Oman Trapped by Spin Bowling
The Omani batsmen struggled against the skillful spin bowling of the Nepalese bowlers.
Spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi created significant pressure by dismissing openers Hasnan Al-Wahab and Karan Sonabhai within just three overs.
Captain Sandeep Lamichhane then bowled Hamad Mirza and Jitendra Singh, turning the game decisively in Nepal’s favor.
Dipendra Singh Airee took three wickets, Lamichhane three, while Rohit Paudel and Rajbanshi claimed two wickets each.
Paudel ended Oman’s innings by dismissing Jeeten Ramanandi.
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