Nepal claimed the ICC World Cricket League Division-III title for the second consecutive time once again defeating Uganda by 62 runs in the final at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.
Nepal had also defeated the same opponent in the final of previous edition held in Bermuda in May, 2013. But after both teams finished at the bottom of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers held in New Zealand early this year, the two sides were relegated back to Division-III.
The two teams have already been promoted to Division-II which will be held in Namibia from January 17 to 24 next year.
Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal made 223 all out in 49.5 overs with their top three batsmen making half centuries. Spinner Bhuwan Karki then picked up four wickets as Uganda were 161 all out in 44.1 overs.
Bhuwan returned with 4-39 from 8 overs, while Basanta Regmi picked up two wickets. Som Pal Kami, Sagar Pun and Shakti Gauchan had one scalp apiece.
Roger Mukasa top scored with 51 off 42 for Uganda hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Hamu Bagenda was their next best scorer with 22 runs.
Earlier, Nepal missed out on a big total despite three of their batsmen making half centuries. In absence of regular opener Subash Khakurel, Naresh Budhayer and Sagar Pun gave Nepal a dream start wih a 107-run sand for the first wicket in 26.2 overs but the middle and lower middle order failed to provide the lift.
Naresh made 51 off 73 with two fours and a six before he lost his wicket to Henry Sseyondo. Sagar and Gyanendra Malla added another 24 before the former fell for 64 off 99 with five fours and a six.
Skipper Paras Khadka (13) innings that included a six didn’t last that long along with Binod Bhandari (nine) and Aarif Sheikh (eight) with Gyanendra doing the bulk of scoring in the middle order.
Gyanendra made 56 off 65 with five boundaries and when he was dismissed in the second ball of 48th over at 208, Nepal lost their last six wickets for just 19 runs.
Mukasa was also the performer of the ball picking up 6-27 from 3.5 overs. Three of his wickets came in the final over.
