KATHMANDU, Oct 30: Capping an impressive campaign in Malaysia, Nepal defended the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 title on Thursday defeating Uganda by 62 runs in the final of the tournament at the Kinrara Oval Academy in Kuala Lumpur.
Having already secured promotion to ICC WCL Division 2 on Wednesday as the top team of the round-robin league, Nepal produced an all-round performance in the final to lift the title and also avenge the defeat to Uganda in its opener.
Nepal, Division 3 champion in 2013, was relegated to the same division after a disappointing ICC World Cup Qualifiers campaign in January earlier this year.
Electing to bat first, Nepal made an impressive start with the top three batsmen scoring half-centuries, but the middle and lower order failed to build on it as Nepal collapsed to 223 all out on the penultimate ball of the innings.
Defending a modest total, Nepal then bowled out Uganda for 161 runs in 44.1 overs with disciplined bowling and tight fielding. Bhuwan Karki pocketed four wickets for Nepal and Basanta Regmi claimed two. Shakti Gauchan, Sagar Pun and Sompal Kami shared a wicket each.
"The boys are happy and in a celebratory mood after retaining the title, and we achieved what we had wanted," said Nepal´s head coach Pubudu Dassanayake. "Beating Uganda in the final was special and we got the perfect revenge. We had failed to play to our standard in the opener."
"Everyone has been pushing themselves for this event because we know it´s a pathway to ODI status, as well as the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the ICC World Cricket League Championship. We want to be there, and we are doing whatever we can from our side to get to that level, and hopefully we can make it through Division 2 to those competitions," the International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Nepal skipper Paras Khadka as saying in a press release issued on Thursday.
Nepali top order has been struggling with the bat since long, but the openers showed signs of improvement during the Division 3 tournament. On Thursday as well, Nepal got a sound start from the top order with openers Sagar Pun (64) and Naresh Budhaayer (51) and No 3 batsman Gyanendra Malla (56) all crossing the half-century mark.
However, the middle order and tail-enders failed to deliver in the final as skipper Paras (13) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
"The most positive aspect of the tournament was that the top order started getting runs. Subash Khakurel, Naresh, Gyanendra and Sagar all did well in batting," said Dassanayake.
He, however, opined that there were lots of areas for improvement as well. "Though we got a good start, we failed to cross the 250-run mark. We did not have a good finish."
"Now we have to get ready for Division 2. We have to work even harder in the coming days because we will be playing at a different level. A top-two finish in Division 2 will take Nepali cricket to another level," Dassanayake said.
The Division 2 tournament is scheduled to take place in Namibia from January 17 to 24 next year and will feature six teams -- Nepal, Uganda, host Namibia, Kenya, Canada and the Netherlands. It is a gateway to the ICC Intercontinental Championship, a four-day first-class cricket tournament, and the World Cricket Championship as the top two teams of Division 2 will qualify for these two events.
Defending a modest total, Nepal then bowled out Uganda for 161 runs in 44.1 overs with disciplined bowling and tight fielding. Bhuwan Karki pocketed four wickets for Nepal and Basanta Regmi claimed two. Shakti Gauchan, Sagar Pun and Sompal Kami shared a wicket each.
"The boys are happy and in a celebratory mood after retaining the title, and we achieved what we had wanted," said Nepal´s head coach Pubudu Dassanayake. "Beating Uganda in the final was special and we got the perfect revenge. We had failed to play to our standard in the opener."
"Everyone has been pushing themselves for this event because we know it´s a pathway to ODI status, as well as the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the ICC World Cricket League Championship. We want to be there, and we are doing whatever we can from our side to get to that level, and hopefully we can make it through Division 2 to those competitions," the International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Nepal skipper Paras Khadka as saying in a press release issued on Thursday.
Nepali top order has been struggling with the bat since long, but the openers showed signs of improvement during the Division 3 tournament. On Thursday as well, Nepal got a sound start from the top order with openers Sagar Pun (64) and Naresh Budhaayer (51) and No 3 batsman Gyanendra Malla (56) all crossing the half-century mark.
However, the middle order and tail-enders failed to deliver in the final as skipper Paras (13) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
"The most positive aspect of the tournament was that the top order started getting runs. Subash Khakurel, Naresh, Gyanendra and Sagar all did well in batting," said Dassanayake.
He, however, opined that there were lots of areas for improvement as well. "Though we got a good start, we failed to cross the 250-run mark. We did not have a good finish."
"Now we have to get ready for Division 2. We have to work even harder in the coming days because we will be playing at a different level. A top-two finish in Division 2 will take Nepali cricket to another level," Dassanayake said.
The Division 2 tournament is scheduled to take place in Namibia from January 17 to 24 next year and will feature six teams -- Nepal, Uganda, host Namibia, Kenya, Canada and the Netherlands. It is a gateway to the ICC Intercontinental Championship, a four-day first-class cricket tournament, and the World Cricket Championship as the top two teams of Division 2 will qualify for these two events.