Nepal face Kuwait in crucial encounter

Kathmandu, July 26

Nepal might have begun the T20 World Cup Asia Region Final with a loss against lowly Qatar but the win against Malaysia on Wednesday and the results of other matches on Friday have put them in driver’s seat to earn a chance of playing the global qualifiers one more time.

Nepal will take on Kuwait on Saturday and face hosts Singapore the next day. The path is simple, win both matches and claim the trophy along with berth in global qualifiers, which will send six teams to next year’s World Cup in Australia.

Nepal are sitting at the third position with just two points from two matches and wins against Kuwait and Singapore will take them to the top of the table regardless of the results of other matches. Singapore, who defeated Malaysia by eight wickets today, lead the standing with five points from three matches, while Kuwait are next with three after their 10-wicket victory over Qatar. Malaysia and Qatar, who have two points each from three matches, are out of the race after the day’s matches.

The team will be happy to welcome skipper Paras Khadka, who has recovered from the back injury sustained in the first match against Qatar. Khadka did not feature in the second match against Malaysia and his deputy Gyanendra Malla led the team to seven-wicket victory. Malla regained his form with the fastest half century by a Nepali batsman in T20 International smashing five fours and three sixes in his 20-ball 50.

Another positive aspect for Nepal is the opening partnership. Khadka and Malla put in 49 runs in six overs against Qatar emulating the previous best of 46 between Subash Khakurel and Sagar Pun and the record was broken again in the match against Malaysia with Malla and Pradeep Singh Airee scoring 67 runs in 5.2 overs.

But skipper Khadka said the match against Kuwait would be an easy one. “We have made a strong comeback after the shock defeat against Qatar and each of the team members know that we have to perform to our potential to win the next two matches,” said Khadka. “We are committed to play good cricket over the next two days as we are in a mission to play in the World Cup and not just earn berth in the global qualifiers,” he added.

The two sides have met thrice in the shortest version of the game and Nepal have upper hand winning all three matches. But they have not faced each other since Nepal’s nine-wicket victory in the Incheon Asian Games in 2014.

In their first encounter in 2009 at the Sheik Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Nepal defeated Kuwait in bowl out after they were tied on 123 runs, thanks to the last-ball six from Binod Bhandari. In 2011, Nepal registered one-run victory at the TU Stadium.

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