Nepal defeated Oman by 10 runs in their final match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 at the Al Amerat ground in Oman on Monday, closing the tournament with a sixth-place finish in the points table on 30 points and keeping alive their ODI status. Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal posted 280 all out in their 50 overs, before holding firm as Oman finished on 270 for seven in reply, falling just short of the 281-run target.
Half-centuries from Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee and Dev Khanal powered Nepal's innings, while a disciplined effort in the field ensured the target ultimately proved beyond Oman's reach in front of their home crowd.
Nepal's Batters Set Oman a Target of 281
After winning the toss and electing to bat first at Al Amerat, Nepal set about building a total that could keep the opposition under pressure, and their batting order duly delivered. Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee and Dev Khanal each went on to score fifties, driving Nepal to 280 for the loss of 10 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
As RatoPati reported, the defining feature of Nepal's innings was the presence of three separate half-centurions. Rather than depending on a single standout knock, Nepal spread the scoring through its lineup, with Paudel, Airee and Khanal each making a fifty as the side pushed towards a imposing total.
A score in excess of 280 is widely regarded as a strong benchmark in 50-over cricket, and by the time Nepal's innings closed, the team had given itself a genuine platform to defend. Although all 10 wickets fell, the depth of contributions meant Nepal still walked off with a challenging 281-run target on the board.
Three Half-Centuries Anchor the Innings
The collective nature of the effort stood out. With Paudel, Airee and Khanal all passing fifty, Nepal ensured that the loss of wickets at one end did not derail the innings, and each of the three batters played a part in lifting the total to 280. Nepal Press and Nagarik News both framed their coverage of the match around that 281-run target, underlining just how much the first-innings effort shaped the contest.
Oman Fall 10 Runs Short in the Chase
Chasing 281 for victory on home soil, Oman compiled 270 for seven in their 50 overs. The hosts batted through their full quota of overs and still had seven wickets in hand, but they could not find the additional runs required, finishing 10 runs short of the target set by Nepal.
The narrow margin reflected a match that stayed finely balanced deep into the second innings. For Nepal, defending a target of 281 demanded sustained pressure throughout the 50 overs, and the side delivered it at the crucial moments, conceding 270 runs while taking the seven wickets that kept Oman at bay and sealed a memorable 10-run win.
Sixth Place and ODI Status Kept Alive
Beyond the immediate satisfaction of ending the tournament with a victory, the result carried real consequences for Nepal's standing in the competition. The win lifted Nepal to sixth place in the League 2 points table, taking their tally to 30 points, and, crucially, kept alive their ODI status.
The key numbers from the match at Al Amerat tell the story of a tense, closely fought fixture:
- Result: Nepal beat Oman by 10 runs
- Nepal innings: 280 all out in 50 overs
- Half-centuries: Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee and Dev Khanal
- Oman innings: 270 for 7 in 50 overs
- Final standing: Sixth place in the points table with 30 points
- Significance: Nepal's ODI status kept alive
A Winning Send-Off at Al Amerat
For a side whose place in one-day international cricket had been hanging in the balance, closing the League 2 campaign with a win carried importance well beyond the result itself. With the bat, Paudel, Airee and Khanal ensured Nepal posted a total worth defending; in the field, the team did just enough to keep the home side at arm's length across a nervous chase.
The 10-run margin summed up how tightly contested the fixture was, but also how Nepal found a way across the line when it mattered. Having secured sixth place with 30 points and kept their ODI status alive, Nepal signed off from the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 on a winning note at Al Amerat.
