Tuesday 29 July 2008

Nepal enters into semifinal of ACC elite cup cricket

A 62–run partnership between Paras Khadka and Shakti Gauchan took Nepal to a six-wicket victory over Singapore at the Kinrara Oval. With this victory Nepal are almost certainly in the semi-finals of the ACC Trophy Elite.Taking first use of the track, Singapore were also up against a team which fielded superbly and allowed their batsmen very little opportunity to be aggressive. Singapore just couldn't get any momentum going at all and with the top-order dismissed within the 13th over the remaining batsmen were as much intent on survival as run-scoring.Nepal kept the pressure on. Danger-man Munish Arora bowled by Paras Khadka for just 4 off 19 deliveries. A partnership between Chaminda Ruwan and Christopher Janik where both batsmen looked comfortable against the Nepali bowlers offered hope to Singapore but a poor call by his captain had Janik run-out by short extra-cover. Ruwan (40) went soon after, and none of the remaining Singapore batsmen able to assert themselves against some quality wicket-to-wicket bowling.
Batting wasn't easy all day at Kinrara, the wicket having streaks of green and with cracks which had the ball keeping low whenever it landed on them. Plus there is a distinct slope down towards the Road End starting just on a fullish length, which had deliveries throughout the day shooting straight on.We need to bowl very well plus have some luck" to defend 155, said Singapore's Venkatramana. Singapore's opening bowlers Pramodh Raja and Muhammad Ali bowled two ripping break-backs to claim the wickets of Lohani and Chaugai. Had Singapore's wicket-keeper Vivek Vedagiri accepted Vesawkar's outside-edge Nepal before scoring, the ball running down to the boundary, 155 would have looked far away.Bowl well Singapore did, early on. Raja, Ali and Shoib Razzak moved the ball both ways off the seam early on but once they came out of the attack none of the remaining bowlers threatened Nepal's batsmen. Gyananendra Malla's rush of blood gifted a wicket to Singapore but Khadka (71*) and Gauchan (30*) effortlessly, elegantly, indomitably saw Nepal home.
Nepal and Afganisthan topped their group. The semifinal game would be held on Friday (1 August) in between Nepal and United Arab Emirates; Afghanistan and Hongkong. Nepal is eyeing to victory to qualify the Asia Cup to be held between India, Shri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh (Test categorized nations) and finalist of ACC elite cup crickets. We wish all the best to Nepalese team.