Nepal hurdles USA, captures World Cricket League crown

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (4E Sports) – Nepal rode the outstanding throwing arm of spinner Basant Regmi to score an eight-wicket win over USA Monday and capture the 2012 ICC WCL Division Four title Monday at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Three days after taking 5 for 35 in a 32-run win over USA, Regmi claimed 5 for 20 to help bowl out USA for 145 to help Nepal complete its unbeaten run en route to the championship.

The Nepalese became the first team to 6-0 at a World Cricket League tournament since United Arab Emirates did it at Division Two in 2011.

Regmi’s outstanding performance in the event earned him Player of the Tournament honors after taking a tournament-best 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 6.66 and an economy rate of 2.80.

“Mentally we thought we had some momentum going into the game from our win against Singapore yesterday but the end result was something different,” USA vice-captain Sushil Nadkarni said after the match.

“I think it’s a combination of tiredness as well as the ability to play good spin bowling. I think the Nepal guys are good spinners and the guys in our team, some of them are more used to playing fast bowling than spin,” Nadkarni added.

USA and Nepal both advance to the 2013 ICC WCL Division Three in Bermuda from April 28-May 5 while Denmark and Singapore remain in Division Four, which won’t be played again until 2014.

For their part, Malaysia and Tanzania drop down to Division Five which is also due to be held in 2014 where they join Guernsey and Cayman Islands.

In the other playoff matches Monday, Singapore beat Denmark in the battle for third by five wickets after bowling them out for 83 at Selangor Turf Club. In the fifth place match, Malaysia beat Tanzania for the second day in a row, winning by five wickets after chasing down Tanzania’s 187.

Gyanendra Malla scored 66 off 65 balls for Nepal while Subash Khakurel netted 40 not out and captain Paras Khadka 25 not out to finish off the match with 22 overs remaining. Only Anil Mandal, who scored century yesterday, got out early in 3 runs.

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