Nepal beat Oman by 10 runs in Cricket World Cup League 2 on October 19, defending 280 at Al Amerat, The Kathmandu Post reported.
The result delayed Oman’s bid for a direct place at the World Cup Qualifier. The ICC says Oman still needs one point from four remaining matches.
The Post reported Oman finished on 270 for seven after 50 overs despite half-centuries from Jatinder Singh and Hammad Mirza. The chase had looked promising.
Singh made 89 and Mirza 87. Together they added 158, but their dismissals left the hosts needing 76 from the final nine overs.
Three more wickets then fell for 28 runs, according to the ICC’s account. Nepal’s late pressure prevented Oman from converting that platform into victory.
Hassnain Shah remained unbeaten on 40. Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee and Lalit Rajbanshi each took two wickets as the visitors contained the closing stages.
Nepal’s innings rested on three half-centuries after they chose to bat. Rohit Paudel led the scoring with 80 from 81 balls.
Paudel struck two fours and two sixes during his innings.
Airee added 69 from 62 deliveries, including four sixes and three fours. Dev Khanal contributed 57 from 65, with four boundaries and a six.
Ishan Pandey’s 29 and Bashir Ahmad’s 17 supplied further runs. Oman’s Shah Faisal claimed five wickets, limiting Nepal to a total that remained within reach.
Paudel and Airee shared a 139-run partnership, establishing the central platform for the innings. Their contributions ultimately gave Nepal enough runs to withstand Oman’s strongest stand.
The victory left Nepal with 30 points from their completed 36-match League 2 campaign. The Kathmandu Post reported 14 wins, 20 defeats and two shared-point matches.
Oman and Namibia both have 33 points, but Namibia has finished its 36 matches. Oman has played 32 and retains control of its qualification position.
The ICC says four Oman defeats would leave the teams level on points and wins, making net run rate potentially decisive against Namibia’s minus-0.278 figure.
Oman’s final League 2 tri-series is in the United Arab Emirates against the hosts and the Netherlands. A point there would settle the remaining top-four berth.
That berth leads to the World Cup Qualifier, rather than directly to the World Cup. The USA, Scotland and Netherlands have already secured League 2’s other places.
Nepal’s route continues through the Qualifier Play-off alongside the other bottom-four League 2 teams. That eight-team competition will award four places at the main Qualifier.
