Nepal secures place in World Cup Qualifiers

Nepal secured promotion to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014 along with Uganda after their final group matches of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 in Bermuda on Saturday night.

On a day when three teams had a chance to claim the vital second position on the table, Nepal defeated Italy by eight wickets and Bermuda defeated USA by five wickets, resulting in Nepal overtaking USA on the points table based on net run rate.

In the day’s third match, Uganda, which was already guaranteed a position in both the tournament final and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014 after defeating USA on Thursday, lost to Oman by seven wickets.

In the most anticipated match of the day, it was a case of saving the best for last as host Bermuda defeated USA by five wickets at the National Sports Stadium.

USA needed to win the match to guarantee a top two finish, while Bermuda needed to win the encounter to avoid the possibility of being relegated if Oman won its match against Uganda.

Rahul Viswakarma receives man-of-the-match trophy. (Photo: Raman Siwakoti/ CAN)

USA won the toss and elected to bat. USA posted 220 for nine from its fifty overs, setting a run rate of almost 4.50 to the host for victory. In reply, Bermuda went for the boundaries to secure a win as quickly as possible. Left-hander Chris Douglas survived three dropped catches to blast 89 from 75 balls, including three sixes and nine fours, to set the foundation. Bermuda reached its target of 221 in the 45th over, for the loss of five wickets.

Earlier, Nepal defeated Italy by eight wickets at St. David’s Cricket Club to secure a spot in Sunday’s final, as well as a position in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014.

Sitting third on the ladder after four rounds, Nepal needed a convincing victory to try and knock USA out of second position.  Chasing 128 for victory after restricting the European side to 127 from its 50 overs, openers Subash Khakurel and Pradeep Airee wasted no time, putting on an 87-run partnership from 12 overs.  Captain Paras Khadka smashed 22 from only 8 balls, while Gyanendra Malla struck two shots – one six and one four – to still be at the crease alongside Airee (42 not out) when the side reached 129, and victory, in the 15th over.  Luis Di Giglio and Fida Hussain took one wicket apiece.

Italy had started slowly, with openers Hayden Patrizi (4) and Andrew Northcote (10) patiently facing down the fierce Nepal bowling attack to set the foundation.  Stalwarts Peter Petricola (31) and Carl Sandri (39) increased the run rate, but a decisive three-wicket haul by Rahul Vishwakarma tore through the vital middle order, and Italy was struggling at 108 for six in the 37th over.  While no other batsmen made significant contributions, Italy batted out its innings for the first time in the tournament, scoring 127 for nine.  Sanjam Regmi captured three for 32, but it was Vishwakarma’s three for 28 that was adjudged the man of the match performance.

Nepal skipper Khadka was pleased that his side’s hard work has paid off with a top two finish.  “We had to make sure that we put down a good run rate.  Pressure is always there, after having lost both the first two games so we had to step it up.  Hats off to the boys for having played so well and for their determination.  We had to wait for the results of the other matches, and then it happened for us.  They say that when you work hard, things and luck work for you.  That’s what we believe in and it worked for us.”

Having chased down the total in the 15th over, Khadka admits that the wait to hear the results of the day’s remaining matches was not easy.  “It was a nervous wait for the other results.  After we finished we had to wait about two hours, but thank god we hung in there and it worked for us.”

Nepal now faces Uganda in the final, after losing to the number one side on the second day by six wickets.  The skipper believes that his side has improved since Monday, and will be focused on winning tomorrow. “We’ll think positive and forget what happened.  It was good that we were playing as a team today.   The momentum is back and we just need to continue the momentum.  Like I’ve said before, if we play to our potential, the results will be pretty good.”

Points table after round five: