By Balbir Singh ,DUBAI, NOV 20 : Netherlands defeated Nepal by five wickets and three overs and four balls to spare in their Group B outing in the ICC World Cup Twenty20 Qualifier at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here today. With their fourth victory from five matches they have played so far, Netherlands were occupying the top spot in their pool with eight points and net run rate of +1.456. Nepal lost their second match and were pushed down to third position on better net run rate by Afghanistan who beat Bermuda by eight wickets with 61 balls to spare in another Pool B match. Afghanistan have won three matches from four and secured six points with a net run rate of +0.753. Nepal’s net run rate is +0.357.
Netherlands were set a victory target of 108 by Nepal. Netherlands achieved it by reply with a total of 110 for 5 in 16.2 overs. Ben Cooper lifted Paras Khadka over midwicket for six and it was the winning stroke for Netherlands. Cooper (12) and Eric Szwarczynski (21) remained not out and were associate in an unfinished sixth wicket stand of 31 runs.
Opener Stephan Myburgh top scored with 31 which came off 20 balls and contained five boundaries and one six. , Wesley Barresi (11), Daan van Bunge (11) and Peter Borren (17) also made useful contributions. Basan Regmi got three wickets for 12 runs.
Earlier, Netherlands won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. The team from Himalayan Kingdom could muster only 107 for 6 in 20 overs with Gyanendra Mall playing a sedate innings of 44 off 55 deliveries. He hit one four and one six.
Their other main scorers were Subhash Khakurel (11) and Binod Bhandari (29, 2x4s, 1×6). Player of the Match Mudassar Bukhari (3 for 15) andAhsan Malik Jamil (2 for 29) restrict Nepal’s innings with their tight bowling.
Brief scores: Nepal: 107 for 6 in 20 overs (Subhash Khakurel 11, Gyanendera Malla 44, Binod Bhandari 29, 2x4s, 1×6,Mudassar Bukhari 3 for 15, Ashan Malik Jamil 2 for 29, Michael Rippon 1 for 10).
Netherlands: 110 for 5 in 16.2 overs (Stephan Myburgh 31, 5x4s, 1×6, Wesley Barresi 11, Daan van Bunge 11, Peter Borren 17, Eric Szwarczynski not out 21, Ben Cooper not out 12, Basant Regmi 3 for 12). Player of the match Mudassar Bukhari (Netherlands).
At the ICC Academy ground, Afghanistan defeated Bermuda by eight wickets with 61 deliveries to spare.
Bermuda batting first score all out in 18.1 overs. Only Chris Douglas (12), Lionel Cann (28) and Jacobi Robinson (13) could reach the double figure mark. Samiullah (3 for 20), Mohammad Nabi (2 for 27), Karim Sadiq (2 for 16) and Shapoor Zadran (2 for 18) easily ran through the Bermuda innings.
AFGHANISTAN WIN BY EIGHT WICKETS: Propped up by an unbeaten knock of 60 in 36 balls by opener Mohammad Shahzad ( nine fours and two sixes) and 33 by Mohammad Nabi (16 balls, 2x4s, 3x6s), Afghanistan comfortably scored 104 for 2 in 9.5 overs.
Brief scores: Bermuda: 101 in 18.1 overs (Chris Douglas 12, Lionel Cann 28, Jacobi Robinson 13, Samiullah 3 for 20, Mohammad Nabi 2 for 27, Karim Sadiq 2 for 16, Shapoor Zadran 2 for 18).
Afghanistan: 104 for 2 in 9.5 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 60, 36 balls, 9x4s, 1×6, Mohammad Nabi, 16 balls, 2x4s, 3x6s). Player of the match Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan).