Nepal finish group stage unbeaten

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Apr 18, 2024

Nepal ended their group stage journey unbeaten at the ACC Men�s Premier Cup with a six-wicket win over Saudi Arabia at the Al Amerat Cricket Grounds in Oman on Wednesday.

Already assured group winners, Nepal earned eight points from maximum four matches to top the group. Hong Kong, who hammered Malaysia in their final group stage, follow Nepal as runners-up in the semi-finals.

Nepal will now take on Group ‘B’ runners of the United Arab Emirates. Hong Kong taken on hosts and Group ‘B’ winners Oman for a place in the final.

After a two-hour delay, the match was shortened to eight overs with Nepal electing to field first. Saudi Arabia managed to score 73-7 before Nepal reached 75-4 with four balls to spare.

Man-of-the-match Gulshan Jha struck a 19-ball 32 not out for Nepal with two fours and two sixes. Skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel was 16 not out from seven balls.

Nepal were 15-3 before Gulshan and Dipendra Singh Airee (17) stitched a 33-run partnership.

Earlier Abdul Waheed was the lone contributor hitting 37 from just 16 balls. His innings included three each sixes and fours. Karan KC and Abinash Bohora took 2 wickets each for Nepal.

Pratish GC, playing his first game of the tour replacing Sompal Kami, took a wicket along with Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi.