Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC shines as Nepal beat Oman
Nepal bounced back from consecutive defeats in the CWC League 2 to register an emphatic victory over hosts Oman at Al Amerat, bundling the home side for just 121 in just 38 overs. This is exactly the sort of performance Nepali fans were looking forward to see.
With the ball, Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane both took four wickets, while veteran Sharad Vesawkar had success on his return to the side, grabbing two middle-order wickets to prevent an Omani comeback. Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood top scored with the bat with a resilient 41 before he nicked one to the wicketkeeper giving Karan KC his fourth wicket of the match.
Karan KC got of the openers back in the pavilion in the powerplay. He got the prize wicket of Jatinder Singh, whose blistering century helped the hosts to a decisive victory against Nepal last week. Karan KC and Lamichhane continued to take wickets as Oman at the end of 14 overs were 43 for 6.
No.9 Kaleemullah was fortunate to survive a big LBW shout in Lamichhane’s over, but Malla finally decided to go for the kill in the 35th over, bringing back Karan as Maqsood began to play on his shots. Lamichhane wrapped things up on the first ball of the 38th bowling the no.11 Bilal Khan out.
Defending just 121 Oman went to their new ball combo of Kaleemullah and Bilal Khan to put them on the back foot, and Kaleemullah provided the early breakthrough the hosts required. Bhurtel tried to force a drive off the back foot, but his shot was high and wide of the keeper, but the ball was taken well over his head by Jatinder Singh at first slip. Gyanendra Mall who was heavily criticized in the last game made 52 in just 46 balls. His fifty alongside Aasif Sheikh’s 40 was enough to take Nepal over the line.
Nepal has moved into fourth position in League 2 after defeating the UAE and Namibia, despite the fact that both teams still have a game in hand. There is little separating the five teams in the middle of the table.
With Scotland just one point ahead of Nepal on 9 from 8 matches and the USA having a poorer win/loss ratio while having 14 points in second place. Oman is in first place with 20 points after 13 games, but it will have little time to recoup before facing the United States in the tri-series finale tomorrow.
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