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| Kathmandu, Wednesday July 17, 2002 Shrawan 01, 2059. |
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Nepali batsmen run themselves
into trouble
Post Report
KATHMANDU, July 16:Nepal must win
Wednesday’s tie against Kuwait to reach the semifinal of the Asian Cricket Council
(ACC) Trophy as they were handed a 6-wicket defeat at the hands of United Arab Emirates
(UAE) at Singapore Cricket Club’s ground, Singapore on Tuesday.
This is the third time Nepali national team
have lost against UAE –the defending champions and only participating team to feature
in World Cup against Test playing nation. The loss also ended Nepal’s two-match
unbeaten run in the ACC Trophy.
It was poor understanding and running between
the wicket which brought Nepal’s doom as they were found short of crease three times.
The major loss was the wicket of in-form Shakti Gauchan.
According to the official website of
Singapore Cricket, Nepal’s skipper Raju Khadka won the third toss in as many matches
and decided to bat first as usual. But they started disastrously when A Nadeem trapped
allrounder Mehaboob Alam when just eight runs were added on the board. Nepalgunj’s
batting star Arun Thapa, who could not make it to the final squad in Nepal’s two
previous matches, looked promising but eventually failed to judge a Khuram Khan’s
spinning delivery to be bowled for 19 runs. Bardan Chalise followed him making 21 off 61
balls. Nepal’s batting hope Dipendra Chaudhary also departed soon as Khan trapped him
leg before the wicket.
More troubles were awaiting coach Roy Dias
and skipper Khadka when batting mainstay Gauchan fell short of his crease adding just six
run. Thanks to allrounder and one of the most successful Nepali batsmen in
International-level cricket, Paras Luniya, Nepal managed a respectable total. Luniya
shared a handy 35-run stand with Khadka (20) and another 35-run with Binod Das. Batting at
number 11, Rajkumar Pradhan (7) also added 20 unbeaten runs with Luniya to set the target
of 160 runs in 50 overs.
UAE lost their first wicket A Saeed when just
a run was added on the board but the second-wicket partnership of 47 runs between Arsad
Ali and Naeemuddin eased UAE’s pressure. Man of the match Ali slammed 67 runs in his
patient 104 balls knock belting three fours. Naeemuddin chipped in with 14 runs before
falling to amazing stumping off Das. Skipper Khuram Khan also contributed 27 runs but it
was Atif Ali who coolly scored 31 unbeaten runs off just 45 balls to secure UAE’s
semifinal berth.
Despite being economic, Nepal’s bowler
failed to threaten the opposition batsmen. Das, Chalise and Pradhan bagged a wicket
apiece.
Meanwhile news agency Agence French Presse
(AFP) reported from Singapore that Singapore amassed a one-day cricket record with a
rollicking 440 for two off 50 overs as they trounced Thailand by 325 runs.
Man-of-the-match Kapila Mendis blazed his way
to 191 off 139 balls, including 15 fours and nine sixes, while captain Zubin Shroff chimed
in with a merry 159 from 127 balls with 16 fours and five sixes.
Thailand were then bundled out for 115.
The previous best-recognised one-day score
was 398-5 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 1995-96.
Kuwait strolled to an eight-wicket win against Oman. After
dismissing the winless Oman for 66, Kuwait picked up the runs for the loss of only two
wickets. |
