Khadka bowls Nepal to victory

KATHMANDU, OCT 30 - Nepal once again reigned supreme in a rain-affected match to defeat hosts Malaysia by 36 runs under Duckworth/Lewis method to seal a place in the final of the ICC World Cricket League Division III and gain promotion to Division-II in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

Nepal were in a comfortable position heading into the match at the Selangor Turf Club (STC) with their one foot in the final. Only a huge defeat against the home team could have denied them a place in the final or promotion.

Skipper Paras Khadka pushed Malaysia into the back foot picking up 4-20 in his opening spell of nine overs as the hosts were dismissed for 142 in just 43.3 overs. Nepal, in their chase, were 89-2 in 25 overs when rain interrupted. After no play was possible, Nepal were declared the winners under D/L method.

Nepal--tied on eight points with Uganda--topped the standings with superior net run-rate. Singapore, who stunned USA in the other match of the day, retained their Division III status along with Malaysia. USA and Bermuda were relegated to Division IV. Bermuda lost to Uganda by seven wickets. Nepal will meet Uganda in the final on Thursday.

At the STC, Nepal lost opener Subash Khakurel (three) early on but considering the possibility of rain, Gyanendra Malla and Naresh Budhayer played sensibly making sure they don’t lose wickets. The duo added 69 runs for the second wicket before Mall was dismissed in the 24th over after making 35 off 62 with three boundaries.

Naresh remained unbeaten on 42 off 77 balls in an innings that included five boundaries and a six. Skipper Paras Khadka was unbeaten on one when rain interrupted the game.

Earlier, skipper Khadka struck regularly with his medium pace reducing Malaysia to 65-4 in 14 overs. Opener Anwar Arudin and Khizar Hayat pushed Malaysia to triple figures with a 46-run stand for the fifth wicket. As Malaysia appeared to put a respectable total, Sagar Pun’s dismissal of Arudin saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for just 31 runs.

Arudin top scored with 69 off 102 with 11 fours and a six. Hayat lost his wicket to Shakti Gauchan, who ended up with figurs of 2-9 from five overs, while Bhuwan Karki polished  off Malaysian tail with 3-34 from 9.3 overs. Karki was playing his first match with the national team after two years.

Coach Pubudu Dassanayake credited his boys for the victory. “We came here as the No 1 team and the boys did not disappoint. We just had one bad game in the league stage (against Uganda) but we did what we are capable of. Now we are looking forward to the final and the boys are quite confident to return home with the title,” said Dassanayake.