Nepal slump to four wickets defeat to Qatar

Nepali cricket team marching into the cricket ground to play the fifth match against China in ICC World Twenty20 Asia Region Qualifier B in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Photo courtesy: Raman Shiwakoti

KATHMANDU: Nepal suffered four wickets defeat at the hands of Qatar during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Final played at the Indian Association Ground in Singapore, on Tuesday.

After winning the toss, skipper Paras Khadka opted to bat first and posted a meagre 122 all out in 20 overs. In reply, Qatar rode on man-of-the-match Inam-ul-Haq’s 41 (32) to secure nail-biting finish with four balls to spare.

With this victory, Qatar have collected two valuable points from two matches. Earlier, Qatar had lost to the hosts Singapore by 33 runs.

Nepal’s opening batsmen Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla had combined for a 49-run partnership before skipper Khadka was caught by Nouman Sarwar off Inam-ul-Haq in the 6th over.

Malla trudged off to pavilion after hitting 23 (24) with two fours and a maximum. Rookie middle-order batsman Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 34 (35) included a four and a six in the dying overs of the match.

Qatar’s Iqbal Hussain was the pick of the bowler with 4-0-21-3. Nouman Sarwar and Tamoor Sajjad took wickets each and Inam-ul-Haq scalped with an important wicket off Paras Khadka.

Nepal’s star leg spinner Sandeep Lamichanne took three scalps including an opener Faisal Javed cheaply but it was not enough to prevent Qatar for snatching victory today.

Inam-ul-Haq’s 41 (32) and Kamran Khan 22 (15) with two fours and two sixes, laid the solid foundation for the lower order batsmen to chase down the target.

Karan KC chipped in with a solitary wicket.

Nepal will take on Malaysia in their second match of the tournament at the same stadium tomorrow.

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