Kathmandu, Oct 30:
Nepal has smashed Singapore by eight wickets in a match under the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier.
In the match held at Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Nepal met a target of 146 runs set by its opponent in 16.3 overs at the loss of two wickets. In Nepal’s victory, opener Kushal Bhurtel hit a half-century with highest 74 from 48 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
Rohit Paudel was not out with 35 off 24 balls with two boundaries and two sixes. Nepal’s openers Ashif Sheikh and Bhurtel had a partnership of an outstanding 84 in 9.1 overs. For Singapore, Anantha Krishna and Akshay Puri took one wicket each.
Elected into bat after winning the toss, Singapore made 145 runs in allotted 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets. For the team, opener Rohan Rangarajan hit highest 46 runs off 30 balls. His score included nine boundaries and one six. Similarly, Aryaveer Chaudhry made 37 off 26 with five boundaries. Manpreet Singh contributed 24, and Akshay Puri13.
For Nepal, Abinash Bohora took three wickets, and Sandeep Lamichhane, Gulsan Jha and Karan KC two each.
Nepal is taking on Malaysia tomorrow. Nepal is aiming to qualify for the T20 World Cup for the second time. Earlier in 2014, it played the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Top two teams will qualify for the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in 2024 co-organised by the United States and West Indies.
Under the qualifier, Nepal is placed into Group ‘A’ alongside Malaysia, Singapore and Oman. Likewise, UAE, Hong Kong, Bahrain and Kuwait are in Group ‘B’.
ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier: UAE emerges victorious over Bahrain
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has defeated Bahrain by five wickets in the opening match of Group ‘B’ under the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. In the match held at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, the UAE achieved the target of 136 runs posted by Bahrain in 18. 2 overs, losing five wickets. With this win, the UAE has collected two points.
For the UAE, Ali Naseer scored highest 48 runs not out from 26 balls with four boundaries and three sixes while it was Asif Khan who contributed 23. Captain Muhammad Waseem and Basil Hameed hit 11 each.
On the bowling side, Rizwan Butt took two wickets while Sathaiyah Veerapathiran, Abdul Majid Abbasi and Sachin Kumar claimed one wicket each.
Prior to this, invited to bat first after losing the toss, Bahrain made 135 in 20 0vers at the loss of six wickets. Haider Butt scored 59 off 43 with five fours and two sixes. Likewise, Junaid Aziz contributed 25, and Sohail Ahmed 28.
For the UAE, Junaid Siddique and Aayan Khan took two wickets each while Ali Nasir and Kharthik Meiyappan bagged one each.
Rastriya Samachar Samiti
