Thapa, Kharel shine as Nepal beat Bahrain

AUG 18 - KATHMANDU, 

A solid half-century from Pranit Thapa and a magical bowling performance from Anil Kharel helped Nepal register a comfortable 186 runs victory over Bahrain in the ACC Premier League match on Monday.

Chasing a huge target of 234 runs at the Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain team was all out for just 47 runs in 24.4 overs.

Thapa scored an unbeaten 70 runs after Nepal won the toss and decided to bat first. Rabi Chand also added 33 runs.

Sushant Singh Thapa, 29, and Rabindra Jung Shahi, 23, were other notable scorers for Nepal. Avais Muzaffar took three wickets for Bahrain.

In reply, Bahrain succumbed to a disciplined bowling attack headed by Kharel who grabbed three wickets giving away just eight runs.

Nepal will vie for the title against Malaysia on Wednesday.

Nepal had defeated Thailand, Singapore and Oman in their previous three matches.

CAN scandal costs Nepali cricket dear

JUNE 11 - KATHMANDU, 

The corruption scandal of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has taken a toll on the country’s cricket after the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday decided to give the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 hosting rights to Uganda.

In mid-April, world cricket’s governing body had sent an official proposal to Nepal to host the Division 3, which CAN officials themselves had verified. CAN responded positively and had already started preparations to host the tournament. 

However, after 10 CAN officials were charge-sheeted for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of millions of rupees, the ICC may have decided to give the hosting rights to Uganda instead. 

ICC hasn’t stated the reason for naming Uganda as the hosts in its release issued on Tuesday but considering the position the CAN is in now, it was not possible for them to make any dealings with the cricket authority of Nepal.

The Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Sunday booked 10 CAN officials including the top brass at the Special Court for their alleged involvement in embezzling Rs 14.31 million in the construction of the Mulpani Cricket Stadium. 

President Tanka Aangbu-hang, vice-presidents Chatur Bahadur Chand, Sunil Amatya and Binod Mainali, general secretary Ashok Nath Pyakuryal, treasurer Raju Babu Shrestha, secretary Thakur Prasad Pahadi members Kiran Rana, Thakur Pratap Thapa and Purna Bahadur Lama were booked for the alleged corruption.

The Division 3 would have been Nepal’s second ICC event after hosting the Division 5 tournament in 2010, which they won. The Division 3 is slated for October 26 to November 2 and will be participate in by Nepal, Uganda, Bermuda, USA and the top two teams from Division 4. The Division 4 is slated for September 21-28 in Singapore.

Losing Division 3 is a massive setback for Nepal who are aspiring to excel their level in world cricket following a disastrous ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand. Nepal travelled to New Zealand Qualifier — which sent two teams in the 2015 World Cup and provided four teams with ODI status — following a run of successful results in the ICC ladder. 

In the span of eight months, Nepal had climbed to Division 2 from 4 but their dream journey ended in a ninth place  finish in New Zealand which saw them relegate to Division 3. A Division 3 tournament under home conditions would have made Nepal a firm favourites. 

However after the ICC decision, Nepal will now have to travel to an unknown territory in Uganda who are hosting their first ICC tournament. The ICC recently had given another chance to Nepal and other non-Test playing countries to fight for the future ICC programmes. 

The top two teams from Division 3 will win promotion to Division 2 which will also serve as the Qualifier for the ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) and ICC InterContinental Cup (ICup). Netherlands, Namibia, Kenya and Canada are currently in Division 2, the date and venue of which is yet to be finalised. The WCLC also opens doors for the non-Test playing countries to fight for Test status.

Brazil ready to finally get World Cup underway

JUNE 11 - SAO PAULO,

It's almost time. The day Brazilians have been anxiously waiting for is finally arriving.

Brazil plays Croatia on Thursday to get the home World Cup underway, beginning its quest for a sixth world title almost seven years after the nation was picked as host.

After so much talk about delays, protests and problems, fans at last are getting a chance to cheer for the national team on home soil in football's showcase tournament.

If Brazil wins the opening game, the fact that the stadium in Sao Paulo isn't even fully finished yet will quickly be forgotten. A loss, quite simply, is unthinkable for a nation whose identity is so closely linked to its football team.

Brazil hasn't hosted the World Cup since 1950, when it endured a heartbreaking loss to Uruguay in the last title-deciding game. This time, everybody knows that only the title will be enough to please the home crowd.

"We are all eager to get started, we are just counting the days," Brazil midfielder Ramires said Tuesday. "We know that the fans have confidence in our team and they are behind us. We have to do everything possible to try to win this World Cup. We know everybody is expecting us to do it."

Boosted by the home crowd, Brazil is one of the main favorites to recapture the trophy won by Spain four years ago in South Africa. But the other usual World Cup contenders will be trying to spoil the party in the land of football, including Germany, Italy, Argentina and the Netherlands, runner-up in 2010.

Brazil is trying to become the first nation to win the World Cup at home since France did it in 1998. The Brazilians were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the last two tournaments, to France in 2006 and the Netherlands in 2010.

A festive World Cup atmosphere has taken over Brazil in the run-up to the tournament despite the country's preparation problems and the threats of protests. Brazilians had been slow to get into the World Cup mood, but now streets are being painted with the green and yellow colors and local flags are being displayed on windows of homes across the country.

The crowd support is one of the biggest reasons coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been saying loud and clear that Brazil is obligated to win the World Cup at home. Players also don't hide that they believe Brazil is the main title favorite.

"We know that we will have the fans behind us, and together I think we have a great chance of reaching our final goal, which is to win the World Cup," Brazil starting midfielder Luiz Gustavo said.

African United Club stunned Manag marshyangdi 2-1 in semi-final

APRIL 03 - DHARAN, 

African United Club stunned league champions Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 16th Budha Subba Gold Cup here at the Anfa Technical Centre on Wednesday. 

Substitute Akeen Babatunde headed home the decider three minutes into the extra time. The match was extended to 15 minutes of extra time after the regulation time ended in a 1-1 deadlock. African United had taken the 19th minute lead when Segun Akinade scored capitalising on a pass from Victor. MMC had to wait until the 79th minute to level the scores as Yona Elias made full use of skipper Sagar Thapa’s pass.

MMC themselves had to blamed for the defeat as they squandered numerous easy scoring opportunities. Luck deserted MMC from the beginning as Aziz Shahi found the woodwork in the eight minute and Sujal Shrestha saw his freekick cleared from the goalline in the 38th minute. Deepak Rai was also wasteful moments later shooing wildly out. Sujal was unfortunate yet again when his attempt rebounded of the bar in the 53rd minute. MMC misery was summed up in the injury time when, with African goalie already beaten, Sequn cleared away an Anil Gurung header from the goalline.

Nepal secured Historical victory of 9 runs over Afganistan

MAR 20, KATHMANDU.

Nepal secured a historic nine-run victory over Afghanistan in their last and final preliminary round match of the ICC World Twenty20 .

In a nail-biting finish, Afghanistan fell short of the 142 runs target by nine runs, gifting Nepal their first victory against the Afghans in T20s.

Man-of-the-match Jitendra Mukhiya took three wickets laying a solid platform for the Nepali side to defend their total of 141 for five in the match played the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong on Thursday.

Nepal bowling attack was in the driving seat in much of the Afghanistan batting until Asghar Stanikzai ignited hopes for the Afghan side with a quick-fire 49 from 36 balls. However, Stanikzai's dismissal in the penultimate ball of the Afghan inning dashed any chances of a fightback from the Afghan side.

With 24 runs required from the last over, Stanikzai smashed three boundaries in the first four balls before he was finally caught by Gyanendra Malla off Sompal Kami's delivery.

Mukhiya had earlier grabbed three vital wickets as Afghanistan was reduced to 50 runs for five wickets in the ninth over. Kami and Shakti Gauchan also took two wickets each in their kitty while Basanta Regmi registered one in his name.

Earlier, Subash Khakurel scored a half-century as Nepal posted a competitive target of 142 runs after losing the toss. Khakurel smashed four boundaries and a six for his 56 from 53 balls.

Fielding an unchanged side which lost to Bangladesh on Tuesday, Nepal made a slow start to the game scoring just 19 runs in four overs. Afghans got their first breakthrough when Sagar Pun was caught at the mid-off region while attempting a big hit. Pun was caught by Mohammad Nabi off Dawlat Zadran's ball.

Gyanendra Malla scored a quickfire 22 from 13 balls but then gifted his wicket when he top-edged while attempting reverse-sweep and was caught by Nawroz Mangal.

In-form Skipper Paras Khadka was bowled for just one run after he completely missed a Mirwais Ashraf's delivery which rattled his off stump.

However, Khakurel and Sharad Bheswakar (37 off 32) stepped in and steered the Nepali inning with a solid 76-run partnership. Their partnership finally came to an end when Khakurel was caught off Shapoor Zadran's delivery in the 19th over. Bheswakar too was caught in the same over when he top edged and the ball ended up in the gloves of wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad. Nepal finished on 141 for the loss of five wickets.

Nepal had comfortably won their first match against Hong Kong by 80 runs but struggled against Bangladesh going down by eight wickets.

Source: Ekantipur

Serena faced struggles but survives in Dubai

FEB 20, DUBAI:

Top-seeded Serena Williams faced some early struggles before defeating Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (8), 6-0 in the second round of the Dubai Championships on Tuesday.

Williams, playing in Dubai courtesy of a wild card, has been sidelined with a back injury since losing to Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round of the Australian Open last month. It took Williams the first set to adjust to the left-handed Makarova’s ability to jam many of her shots into the top-ranked American’s body.

“I felt a little rusty, but it was OK,” Williams said. “Body is fine. I just had to get my feet moving, but it was OK. I was really telling myself to stay positive, because I was making a lot of errors that I normally don’t make, and my serve just wasn’t popping the way it normally is,” Williams said. “It definitely got better in the second set.”

Williams now plays Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic or fifth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the quarter-finals. Earlier, Ivanovic sent sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber packing 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6). The former No 1 Ivanovic had three match points on Kerber’s serve in the 12th game but couldn’t close it out against the German who reached last week’s Doha final.

Seventh-seeded Simona Halep, who won last week’s Qatar Open in Doha, retired with a right Achilles injury while trailing Alize Cornet of France 6-1, 1-1, in the first match of the day. Eighth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki had to overcome a one-set deficit to outmaneuver Sabine Lisicki of Germany 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and move into the second round.

Three Star wins dramatically to APF by 2-1.

FEB 20, KATHMANDU.

Defending champions Three Star club found a dramatic winner in the injury time to keep their title hopes alive with a narrow 2-1 win over Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League here at the Dashrath Stadium on Wednesday.

A clever back heel touch from captain Santosh Shahukhala put Three Star ahead in the 22nd minute but Ganesh Lawati equalised eight minutes after interval. Three Star, however, snatched all three points when Nirajan Khadka headed home a Jagajeet Shrestha corner in the second minute of second half injury time.

The win takes the defending champions to within a point of league leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club who have a game in hand. Three Star are second with 28 points while Nepal Police Club occupy third position with 26 points. APF remain in sixth with 19 points from their 15 games.

The departmental side made a strong start to the game as they missed out on scoring four times early on. But despite APF’s early pressure, it was Three Star who took the lead when Sahukhala’s clever back heel crept over the goalline in the 22nd minute.

APF captain Ganesh Lawati then equalised in the 53rd minute, guiding the ball into the bottom corner utilising Nepali’s lay off inside the area. But Three Star eventually found the winner deep into injury time when Jagajeet’s corner was headed home by Khadka, the ball creeping over the goalline through the feet of APF defender Sudeep Shikrakar.