Nepal Secures Spot at Asia Cup 2023

In a nail-biting finish, Kathmandu witnessed an impressive innings by Gulshan Jha as he helped secure the final Asia Cup 2023 spot for Nepal. Facing a tough chase against UAE’s strong spin-bowling group, the 17-year-old stepped up to the plate and showcased his skills. Credit must also be given to skipper Rohit Paudel and coach Monty Desai, who made the smart decision to promote Jha to No.3 in the batting order. It proved to be the winning move as Jha negotiated Aayan Khan‘s left-arm orthodox, before countering with an array of shots. The slow Tribhuvan University conditions and the added dimension of rain threatening in the capital only added to the drama of the match. All in all, it was a hard-fought victory for Nepal, a testament to their determination and fighting spirit.

The tension was palpable as the UAE resumed their innings on the reserve day at 106/9. The Nepalese spin bowlers were determined to finish the job, and Lalit Rajbanshi wasted no time in taking the final wicket with his left-arm orthodox, finishing with an impressive 4/14 (7.1). At the other end, Sandeep Lamichhane was equally impressive, claiming 2/34 (10) and extending his streak of wicket-taking outings to 33-ODI matches. The Emiratis wisely started with their spinners, including 17-year-old Aayan Khan, who took the crucial wicket of Aasif Sheikh for just eight. With the Nepalese bowlers on a roll, it was anyone’s game, but the UAE would not go down without a fight.

At the crease, Jha understood the gravity of the situation- two wickets had fallen at the other end. He decided to be watchful and not take any unnecessary risks. However, when the overpitched deliveries came his way, he jumped on them and sent them straight over the bowler’s head for multiple sixes. Karthik Meiyappan bore the brunt of Jha’s onslaught, conceding 14 runs in just three balls. His onslaught eased the pressure on the batting side, and the Kathmandu crowd’s nervous hush dissipated. The opposition turned to their fast bowler Zahoor as a last-ditch effort, but Jha had already picked up momentum. Along with Bhim Sharki, he worked on their fourth-wicket partnership and soon raised his bat for fifty. As if to put any lingering doubts to rest, Jha smashed the next ball past the boundary to level the scores, before calmly steering the ball behind square on the leg-side for victory. It was indeed an outstanding performance, one that Jha and the Nepal team could be proud of.