Nepal lose to Oman in Super Over

Kathmandu / Nov. 05: Oman defeated Nepal in the Super Over in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier played at the TU Cricket ground in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Chasing a 22-run target by the visitors in the one-over eliminator, the Rhinos managed to get 10 runs on the board at the loss of one wicket.

The nail-biting contest was pushed to Super Over as Oman scored 184 runs on the board at the loss of six wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

Kashyap Prajapati of Oman completed his half-century as he smashed 63 runs off 52 balls, muscling four sixes and three fours. Aqib Ilyas (33) and Captain Zeeshan Maqsood (28) helped Oman to push the match to the Super Over.

For Nepal, Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane grabbed two wickets each.

Earlier, Gulsan Jha and Captain Rohit Paudel cracked blistering half-centuries as Nepal posted an 185-run target for Oman.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Rhinos lost opener Aasif Sheikh quickly as he was caught by Kashyap Prajapati off a delivery by Bilal Khan in 2.4 overs at six runs.

Sundeep Jora, who came to third to bat, was sent back to the pavilion at 10 runs off 13 deliveries at the first ball of the sixth over.

Sheikh’s opening partner, Kushal Bhurtel, however, held the innings for Nepal with a quick 31-run knock from 22 balls with three hits to the fence and two sixes. Bhurtel was caught by Mehran Khan near the boundary off Aqib Ilyas in 7.1 overs.

Kushal Malla was next to go at three runs off nine balls.

Gulsan Jha, who then came to the crease, stepped on the gas and launched an onslaught on Omani bowlers making 54 off 25 deliveries, muscling four sixes and five fours. Jha took only 20 balls to reach his half-century.

Skipper Rohit Paudel made not-out 52 runs off 37 balls, hitting two sixes and five fours following a slow start to his knock. Karan KC chipped in with 2o runs from six balls as Nepal finished with 184-6 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Bilal Khan of Oman took three wickets as Aqib Ilyas sent two Nepali batters back to the pavilion.

Both Nepal and Oman have already qualified for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. On Friday, Nepal ended their long wait for a return to a Cricket World Cup after they defeated the United Arab Emirates by eight wickets in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Kathmandu. Oman also joined Nepal at next year’s global showpiece after routing Bahrain by 10 wickets at TU Cricket Ground.