PressAdda
Kathmandu — Nepal has emerged as the winner of Group B and secured a spot in the Super Six stage of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup Asia–East Asia Pacific Qualifier in Oman. On Friday, Nepal defeated Japan by 5 wickets to claim the top position in the group.
Chasing Japan’s target of 132 runs, Nepal reached the total in 18 overs, losing 5 wickets.
For Nepal, opener Aasif Sheikh scored the highest with 38 runs. Kushal Bhurtel added 21, captain Rohit Paudel made 18, Sandeep Jora scored 5, and Kushal Malla contributed 4 runs before getting out. Dipendra Singh Airee remained unbeaten on 14, while Gulshan Jha stayed not out on 28.
In bowling, Japan’s Shoma Slater took the most wickets with 2.
Earlier, Japan had been invited to bat first after losing the toss and posted 131 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming led the scoring with 60 runs off 46 balls, sharing an 86-run partnership for the second wicket with Ism Rahman, who scored 31 off 25 balls. Despite a promising start, Japan’s middle-order collapse restricted them to 131.
For Nepal, Gulshan Jha and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets each, while Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha claimed one wicket apiece.
