Scotland skill too much for Nepal

Just Nepali Cricket/November 18

Composed Calum Macleod guided his team to register first win of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 by his unbeaten 82 runs against Nepal at ICC Academy Ground No 2, Dubai, on November 18.

Binod Bhandari of Nepal batting against Scotland during the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 cricket match in Dubai, UAE on November 18. Photo: Raman Shiwakoti/CAN

Nepal sent new opening pair of Sagar Pun and Subash Khakurel as they dropped out of form Pradeep Airee, although they has been asked for bat after losing the toss. Khakurel started scoring by hitting a six in free hit off Macleod bowling. However, he gave easy catch to mid off fielder in next over bowled by Safyaan Sharif. Sagar Pun

followed him by playing needless slog shot and caught down the fine leg with top edged shot. Vice captain Gyanendra Malla was out by stumping off medium pace bowler and Nepal sensed real snag.

Paras Khadka and Binod Bhandari shared 47 runs partnership later than that wicket by playing carefully. Binod hit two sixes off Scottish premier spinner Majid Haq on 12th over. Paras, Binod both got out while trying to hit big, and Anil Mandal not be as good as required with bat that came to bat at Number 7.  Basanta Regmi (13 not out) hit a six and four to push Nepal for respectable 137 runs losing seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.  Binod, Paras, Sharad Gyanendra and Sagar made 28, 27, 16, 14 and 11 runs respectively. Safyaan Sharif and Gordon Goudie shared three wickets each where as Iain Wardlaw grabbed a wicket for Scotland.

In reply, Scotland started the inning slowly by scoring just two runs in first over bowled by Amrit Bhattarai.  Calum hit two fours in second over and they completed 16 runs without losing wicket in three overs. Skipper Paras brought Basanta in fourth over and he immediately removed Richie Berrington in third ball of the over. Macleod and Matt Machan shared 48 runs 37 balls after that wicket. They showed respect to good balls and dispatch the poor balls for boundaries. When they looked settled Paras introduced himself in 10th over by switching his bowling from medium pacer to off spinner.  Khadka caught and bowled Machan while the total score was 65 runs.

After that wicket, Scotland played serenely and Nepali bowlers powerless to shake their moral as they showed their County Cricket and World Cricket League experiences. Nepal's bowlers looked harmless and fielders as well dropped two catches one off Shakti's and other off Paras's bowling and the batsmen did not looked back as well as pushing for runs in every over. Amrit offered Calum for two juicy full toss balls, which were send off for sixes, and one ball was out of ground and Scotland chased the target with four balls remained.

Apart from Calum, Matt Machan contributed 28 runs for the team. Skipper Kyle Coetzer stayed not out in 20 runs until game finished. For Nepal, Paras and Basanta took a wicket each.

Nepal will play next match with Papua New Guinea on Tuesday November 19 and the match will begin on 3:45PM NST.

ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013

Nepal vs Scotland

Toss: Scotland won the toss and elected to field first.

Just Nepali Cricket

First inning:

Nepal: 137/7 (20 overs)

Binod Bhandari 28 (25), Paras Khadka 27 (24), Sharad Vesawkar 16 (19), Gyanendra Malla 14 (17), Basanta Regmi  13* (7)Sagar Pun 11 (13)

Safyaan Sharif 3/19 (4 overs), Gordon Goudie 3/29 (4 overs), Iain Wardlaw 1/31 (4 overs)

Second inning:

Scotland: 125/2 (18 overs)

Calum Macleod 82* (63), Matt Machan 28 (19), Kyle Coetzer 20* (39)

Paras Khadka 1/23 ( 4 overs), Basanta regmi 1/28 (3.2 overs), Jitendra Mukhiya 0/17 (3 overs), Sagar Pun 0/17 (2 overs)

Result: Nepal lost the match by eight wickets.