Nepal clinch ICC World T20 Asia Qualifier B to qualify for the next stage

Nepal and Singapore were up against each other in the final of the ICC World T20 Asia Qualifier ‘B’, but heavy rain in Malaysia denied any result as both the teams qualified for the next round of the regional Asian finals. Both the teams came into the final eyeing the trophy and a chance to end the tournament with six successive wins.

Nepal, after finishing at the top of the group standings, with the same points as Singapore but with a superior net run rate, were the true winners of the trophy. Along with the finalists, even the hosts Malaysia ensured a place in the Asian regional Finals after a win against China to finish at the third spot and also pip Thailand with a better net run rate.

Sandeep Lamichhane emerges as the top-wicket taker

Nepal’s young leg-spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane has been on a roll with his superb bowling in the entire tournament. The wrist spinner accounted for 24 wickets to emerge as the highest wicket-taker. His exploits of 4 for 16 in the final against Singapore helped his cause to take his tally of wickets to 24 before rain played the spoilsport in denying Nepal a probable victory in the ultimate game.

Also, Singapore’s Surendran Chandramohan was the highest run scorer with a total of 143 runs at an average of 29.60. He was Singapore’s mainstay in their batting unit for the major part of the tournament.

Nepal skipper reflects on the victorious campaign

After emerging victorious in the Asia Qualifier ‘B’, the skipper had few words of appreciation for his team, “It has been a well-disciplined, clinical tournament for us with everybody up to the mark irrespective of our opponents. We had to play to our standards and glad that we were able to do that,” said Nepal captain Paras Khadka.

“We can’t control the weather and 82 is a score we would have backed ourselves to get. This is just the first stage, the second round won’t be as easy as this round. Hopefully, we can continue to show the form we have shown this past week,” he added.

Now, the six teams from Asia will battle against each other to stay in the hunt for the final two spots in order to progress to the subsequent stages.

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