Nepal aim to continue their winning momentum over USA

Gyanendra Malla’s side will eye another victory over the United States of America in the One-day International Tri-series of the ICC World Cup League 2 when they meet today. Nepal aim to continue their winning momentum over USA

Players of Nepal national cricket team (red and blue) during a practice match against Papua New Guinea in Oman in this recent photo. Photo courtesy: NSJF

bookmark

facebook
twitter
Whatsapp
mail

Sports Bureau

Published at : September 17, 2021

Updated at : September 17, 2021 00:19

Kathmandu

Nepal will aim for giving continuity to their winning momentum over USA when they vie in the third match of the ongoing One-Day International (ODI) Tri-Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 at the Al Amerat cricket ground in Oman on Friday.

Nepal have won three previous ODI fixtures in a row over USA in the League 2 matches. Nepal defeated them by five wickets with an over to spare in the first match of the Series on Monday. Nepal had also registered victory over the same opponents in both ODIs of League 2 played at the TU grounds in Kathmandu in February last year. In one of the two matches at the TU, Nepal had restricted the USA to 35 runs, the lowest ODI total.

But a day after beating the USA, Nepal had faced a five-wicket loss against the hosts Oman at the same venue. Nepal's six points accumulated after three wins have come against the USA.

Opener Kushal Bhurtel and middle order Rohit Paudel each scored half centuries against the USA to guide Nepal to victory in their last match. Bhurtel had scored 84 runs and Paudel 62 runs. But batsmen other than opener Aasif Sheikh failed to live up to expectations against Oman. Sheikh contributed 90 runs while other batsmen were sent out cheaply. Nepal need to come up with an improved batting in the next two matches of the series.

Nepal were also without their star bowler Sandeep Lamichhane in bowling against Oman as he picked injury during batting. But he is recovering well and is expected to play against the USA on Friday. Nepal will play their next match against Oman on Sunday.

Nepal currently sit sixth in the League 2 table with six points from as many matches in the seven-team contest. USA are second in the standings with 12 points from 13 matches while Oman lead the standings with 18 points from 11 matches. Apart from USA, Oman and Nepal, the League two features Scotland, Namibia, the UAE and PNG. Each team will play 36 ODIs when the event concludes in February 2023.

The event is the gateway to the World Cup as the teams finishing in the top three will secure berths in the World Cup Qualifiers. The bottom four will compete in the World Cup Qualifiers playoff set to take place in Zimbabwe in June and July of 2023.