Kathmandu, Oct 20: Nepal secured their One Day International (ODI) status for the next cycle of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 after beating hosts Oman by 10 runs in their final match on Monday.
Defending a target of 281 at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Nepal restricted Oman to 270 for seven in 50 overs to finish sixth in the eight team standings. The victory proved decisive, as Nepal needed the points to stay ahead of Canada and secure automatic retention of their ODI status.
Nepal finished the League 2 campaign with 30 points from 36 matches, just one point ahead of Canada, who ended the competition in seventh place with 29 points.
Under the tournament rules, the top six teams retain their ODI status for the next cycle, while teams finishing outside that group must take a different route to preserve their standing.
Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal were bowled out for 280 in their allotted 50 overs. Captain Rohit Paudel anchored the innings with 80 runs off 81 balls, providing the foundation for a competitive total.
Oman made a determined attempt to chase down the target. Jatinder Singh scored 89 off 114 deliveries, while Hammad Mirza struck 87 off 97 balls. Their contributions kept the hosts in contention, but Nepal held their nerve in the closing overs to seal the win.
The result offered Nepal a measure of relief after a campaign in which every point mattered in the race for the top six. Finishing among the leading teams allows Nepal to retain their place in the ODI structure without having to rely on a separate qualification route.
The League 2 competition provides a pathway towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualification process.
Teams compete across a series of matches, with their final positions determining their prospects for the next stage of international cricket. For Nepal, the narrow victory over Oman ensured they finished the campaign with their ODI status intact.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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