Kathmandu: Nepal has reached the final of the ACC Premier Cup cricket tournament after their semi-final match against Kuwait was abandoned due to rain at the TU cricket ground on Saturday.
The match had to be reduced to 42 overs each side due to frequent disruptions caused by rain. Nepal had scored 281 runs at the loss of nine wickets, and Kuwait’s target was also revised to 281 runs based on the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method. However, when Kuwait was at 37 runs, losing six wickets in 8.3 overs, the match was abandoned due to rainfall, and Nepal progressed to the final as the Group ‘A’ winner.
Paudel made 94 runs off 95 balls, smashing three sixes and seven fours. Malla made 57 off 44 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. Likewise, Kushal Bhurtel contributed 43 runs as Aasif Sheikh made 31. Mohammed Aslam and Adnan Idress of Kuwait took three wickets each to restrict Nepal to 281 runs at the loss of nine wickets.
Karan KC completed a five-wicket haul in Kuwait’s run chase. Nepal will play against the United Arab Emirates in the final on Monday. The UAE booked the final spot after defeating Oman by two runs through the DLS method.
Nepal and the UAE will face each other in the final on Monday. The winner of the tournament will quality for the Asia Cup.
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