Nepal finally came good at WCL Division 3 in Bermuda yesterday with a win over the hosts, but it may be too little too late as Ugaanda and the USA both get one foot in the promotion places.
Nepal won the toss and chose to bowl first in conditions that heavily favoured the bowlers. And the Nepalese bowlers certainly bowled well to dismiss Bermuda for just 106, with Paras Khadka the pick of the bowlers with 4-31. Khadka then completed a fine all-round performance by scoring 46 from 27 balls as Nepal chased down their target in 11.2 overs to win by 8 wickets.
The USA allso chose to bowl first after winning the toss against Oman, and they had Oman struggling on 94-8 in the 28th over. But the Omani lower order battled back to record a more respectable 175 before they were finally bowled out. Neil McGarrell was again the pick of the USA bowlers, taking 3-30.
In reply, the USA were soon on the back foot at 37-3 in the 10th over. Steve Massiah and Rashard Marshall recovered the innings with a partnership of 90 that ended when Massiah was dismissed for 39. Marshall then guided the rest of the innings, even as wickets fell around him. He finished on an unbeaten 72 as his side recorded a two wicket win in the 40th over.
It initially went much the same in the match between Italy and Uganda at the National Stadium in Hamilton, with Italy putting Uganda in to bat after winning the toss. The Ugandans were then restricted to just 114-9 from their full quota of 50 overs, with Carl Sandri taking 4-26.
In reply, Italy had only three batsman reach double figures as Uganda bowled superbly to bowl them out for 91 to win by 23 runs. Davis Arinaitwe was the pick of the bowlers with 4-20. Italian coach Joe Scuderi wasn't too pleased with some of the umpiring though, taking to twitter after the match to express his displeasure, saying that the umpiring was "bordering on cheating", a statement likely to see him summoned to see the tournament referee.
Today, Uganda and the USA will play each other in a match where the winners will secure a place in the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand next year. In other matches, Nepal will play Oman and hosts Bermuda will play Italy.