Khadka goes past 1K T20 runs as Nepal set up finale with Singapore

Nepal captain Paras Khadka made an emphatic return from injury as he struck his 3rd T20I half-century and went past 1000 T20 runs in his career, as he guided Nepal to a crucial victory over Kuwait to set up a winner-takes-all finale with Singapore in the final match of the ICC Asia WT20 Qualifiers at Indian Association Cricket Ground.

No one would have predicted at the start of the tournament that the final group match between the host’s and Nepal would become a finale of sorts, but it got made that way due to Quwait’s stunning win over Nepal in the latter’s first group match. Singapore are ahead in term’s of points due to a washed-out game, while winning the other two. Any result other than a loss will take them to their first ever apperance in the global qualifiers for T20 World Cup.

Although, for doing that, Singapore will have to come up with scoring and tacking strategies for Sandeep Lamichhane (3/21) and Basant Regmi (3/20), who collected 3-wickets apiece in Nepal’s win over Kuwait. If it was not for Kuwait captain Muhammad Kashif’s knock of 49 n.o, Nepal would have restricted them to an even smaller total in the end. However, 141 runs put on board by Kuwait was never going to be enough if their bowlers did not make early in-road’s into Nepal’s batting order. But, it was not to be.

Gyanendra Malla, who struck an impressive half-century in Nepal’s win over Malaysia, provided a good start along with Khadka and once he departed, Sharad Vesawkar (38 n.o off 30) forged a good partnership of 78 runs for the 2nd wicket, as Khadka also reached his half-century, befor getting out to Kashif for 68 runs, coming off 42 deliveries.

Muhammad Kashif displayed near-perfect all-round skills, as he picked up all the three wickets to fall for Nepal, as they reached 143/3 in 15.5 overs.

Qatar finished their campaign on an emphatic note as they notced up their 2nd win over Malaysia to finish 3rd in the points table and will be disappointed with their result against Kuwait, a win in which could have had them on the top of points table before the Singapore/Nepal showdown. Malaysia also endured a disappointing campaign, with only one win over Kuwait to show for themselves, as they finished at the bottom of the points table.

Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Regional Finals Points Table