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MUSCAT : Oman are a win away from securing a spot within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup for the third time after the Males in Crimson recorded an exciting five-run win over hosts Nepal of their concluding group match of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Last on the TU floor in Kirtipur, Nepal, on Thursday morning.
The thrilling triumph ensured Oman the highest spot in Group A with an all-win report and they’ll now face regional rivals, Bahrain, within the semi-finals on Friday with a spot within the 2024 T20 World Cup on the road.
A victory in opposition to Bahrain will safe Duleep Mendis-coached aspect their third look within the coveted ICC Males’s T20 World Cup, having earlier certified for the 2016 and 2021 editions.
With the ICC increasing the 2024 T20 World Cup to a 20-team occasion, a win on Friday for Oman will give them a spot into the worldwide showpiece occasion, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, together with the opposite finalist on Friday.
Nepal will tackle Group B topper UAE, which additionally had received all their three group matches, within the different semi-final on Friday.
On Thursday, Oman have been put to bat first, a choice that appeared to show proper for Nepal because the hosts lowered Oman to 48 for 4 within the powerplay. Kashyap Prajapati and Aqib Ilyas, who shone in Wednesday’s win over Singapore, have been again within the hut with single digit scores whereas Pratik Athavale and Shoaib Khan have been (0) dismissed in an area of 4 balls.
Athavale muscled two fours and a six in his 18-knock 24 earlier than he was caught by Rohit Paudel off Gulsan Jha.
Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood and Ayaan Khan then stitched a 49-run essential stand earlier than one other double blow stalled the progress. Nepal’s star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane despatched again Ayaan (18) and Mehran Khan (0) off two consecutive deliveries within the 14th over.
Maqsood’s preventing knock of 32 (26 deliveries), studded with three sixes and a boundary, was lower quick within the subsequent over and Oman have been at risk of a below-par rating at 100/7 within the 15th over.
Nevertheless, a spirited rearguard motion from Naseem Khushi, who blasted 25 of 14 with two fours and two maximums, together with Shakeel Ahmed’s 17-ball 22, which consisted of 1 six and hits to the ropes propelled Oman to a good rating of 145 within the allotted 20 overs.
Karan KC, regardless of being costly, managed to safe three wickets for 43, whereas Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane claimed two wickets every. Gulshan Jha and Abinash Bohara contributed with a wicket every.
Chasing a difficult goal of 146 to win, the hosts suffered an early blow as Oman’s pacer Bilal Khan dismissed opener Aasif Sheikh early on, resulting in the exit of two extra batters contained in the powerplay. Nepal batters struggled in opposition to Oman’s spinners, stopping them from gaining momentum in direction of the goal.
Medium pacer Mehran Khan was very good with the bowl together with spinners, Aqib Ilyas and Shakeel Ahmed. All three picked up two wickets every to bowl Nepal out for 140, regardless of late drama within the last over.
Nepal wanted 26 to win in six balls with two wickets in hand. With Bibek Yadav and Karan KC on the crease, and an enormous native crowd cheering them, the hosts’ hopes have been raised for a victory as Yadav smashed three sixes in a row of Bilal Khan. Nevertheless, Bilal had the final snicker as he had Yadav caught by Ayaan off the fourth ball to finish a gusty innings of 39 off 24 balls, which included 5 sixes.
Nepal wanted a six off the final ball however Karan KC was caught out going for a giant hit to provide Oman a nail-biting victory.
Karan had smashed a 4 and a six to contribute 15 runs dealing with 11 deliveries earlier than being caught by Kaleemullah.
Within the different matches of the day, UAE topped Group B with a 22-run win over Hong Kong and Bahrain made it to the semi-finals regardless of dropping to Kuwait by 4 wickets.
Bahrain, Kuwait and Hong Kong completed Group B with two factors every and it got here all the way down to internet run-rate (NRR) to determine the opposite semi-finalists from the group. Bahrain with a NRR of -0.398, edged Hong Kong (-0.433) and Kuwait (-0.649).
In one other inconsequential Group A match on Thursday, Malaysia trounced Singapore by 60 runs. Each the groups have been out of the semi-finals race forward of the concluding group match, having misplaced each their video games to Oman and Nepal.
Temporary scores: Oman 145/9 (Pratik Athavale 24, Zeeshan Maqsood 32, Naseem Khushi 25, Shakeel Ahmed 22*; Karan KC 3/43, Sompal Kami 2/16, Sandeep Lamichhane 2/30) beat Nepal 140 in 20 overs (Bibek Yadav 39, Kushal Bhurtel 26; Bilal Khan 3/30, Shakeel Ahmed 2/15, Mehran Khan 2/20, Aqib Ilyas 2/22).
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