Oman lifts ICC T20 Asia Qualifier

Kathmandu: Oman has bagged the title of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier by beating Nepal by 11 runs in the super over at the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground.

After tying at 184 runs in the allotted 20 overs, the match entered the super over. Batting first, in the super over, Oman posted a target of 22 runs for Nepal.

Chasing the target, Nepal lost a wicket of Kushal Bhurtel in the first ball. They faced a dot ball from Bilal Khan and collected two runs each from the third and fourth balls. Kushal Malla hit two boundaries in the fifth and sixth ball each.

Before this, winning the toss and batting first, Nepal made 184 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of six wickets. Chasing the target of 185 runs, Oman played a draw in 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets, leading to the super over.  For Oman, Kashyap Prajapati hit the highest 63 runs off 52 balls with four sixes and three fours.

Similarly, Captain Zeeshan Maqsood made 26 off 18 with two boundaries and one six. Aqib Ilyas hit 33 from 19 with three sixes and two fours while Pratik Athavale contributed seven. For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC took two wickets each. Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Abinash Bohora, and Bibek Yadav claimed one each.

In Nepal's innings, Jha contributed 54 off 25, including four sixes and five boundaries. He was the fifth Nepali wicket to be out. Skipper Rohit Poudel remained unbeaten on 52 with two sixes and five fours. Nepal had to lose Asif Sheikh as its first wicket. He hit six off six. Sheikh was caught out by Prajapati in the fourth ball of the third over from Khan.

Likewise, Nepal lost Sandip Jora as its second wicket. He made four off 13. Maqsood bowled out Lamichhane. Bhurtel was Nepal's fourth wicket to be taken. He made 31 off 22 with three fours and two sixes.

Nepal's fourth wicket Malla was run out for three by Ilyas. Likewise, Yadav made three before being out while KC hit 20 not out. On the bowling side, Khan of Oman took three wickets while Ilyas took two. Maqsood took one wicket for Oman.

Earlier, Nepal suffered a five-wicket defeat against Oman in the last match of the group stage.

RSS