In the match restricted to 18 overs due to fog, West Indies elected to bat and scored 237 runs losing three wicket. Nepal managed to score 164 runs without losing any wicket.[break]
Opener Gregory Stewart and Halden Forde shone with batting for West Indies. Forde scored 60 runs before he was trapped leg before by Sunil Subedi. Khima Nanda Gaire trapped Ram Rattan (16). Caneel Grasam and Stewart were on the crease before the end of the West Indies innings. Stewart was unbeaten on 87 runs while Grasam was on 14 runs.
Chasing the target of 238 runs, Nepal managed to score only 164 runs without losing a wicket. Nepal had changed its opening pair as the regular opener and vice-captain Bikram Bahadur Rana was replaced by Khima Nanda Gaire.
Opener Ram Prasad Paudel and Gaire gave momentum for the team before Paudel had to retire injured on 30 runs as he suffered a cut in thumb. Paudel was replaced by Rana and continued the good partnership, but eventually failed to guide the team to victory. Gaire was unbeaten on 76 runs while Rana contributed 28 runs.
Coach Ganga Prasad Pauded said his side´s chance of a win was ruined due to disciplined bowling of opponent into line and length. “We improved our mistakes of running between the wickets but the bowlers and fielders failed to perform upto their standard.”
“This tournament has been fruitful as we learned lot from the opponents -- how to bowl, bat and to field,” said coach adding “This is not only power game but a brain game as well."
Nepal will face Pakistan on Monday at Central College Cricket Ground. Pakistan has already qualified for the semifinal winning all the matches in the league round.
(Ghimire contributes to Republica from Bangalore)
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