Nepal to face Sri Lanka in quarterfinal

Nepal’s final preliminary group match of the 20th Asian Games against hosts Japan was abandoned due to heavy rain on Saturday, but the Rhinos had already done enough to advance as Group A’s topper and book a quarterfinal clash against Sri Lanka.

Put into bat after losing the toss at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi, Nepal managed 149/4 in a match shortened by rain to 15 overs per side.

However, persistent torrential downpours following the conclusion of Nepal’s innings forced the umpires to call off the fixture. Nepal and Japan then shared points.

Having defeated Afghanistan by five wickets on Friday, Nepal topped Group A to seal their spot in the last eight. Hosts Japan, who had lost to Afghanistan, were eliminated from the competition.

In the quarterfinal stage, group winners Nepal will face seeded heavyweights Sri Lanka for a place in the semifinals. Group A runners-up Afghanistan will take on India in another quarterfinal fixture.

Rain also disrupted Group B action on Saturday, with the second match between Malaysia and Oman abandoned without a single ball being bowled. Group B winners Malaysia advance to face Bangladesh in the quarterfinals, while runners-up Hong Kong take on Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, explosive half-centuries from Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam set up Nepal’s formidable total. Jora remained undefeated on a belligerent 57 off 32 balls, while Bam stayed not out at 52 off 22 deliveries. The pair combined for a 65-run partnership off 30 balls for the fifth wicket.

After openers Kushal Bhurtel (4 off 12) and Aasif Sheikh (21 off 15) fell cheaply alongside Kushal Malla (2 off 5) and Gulshan Jha (2 off 6), Jora took charge of the innings with supreme confidence, hammering five fours and three sixes. He reached his half-century when a Japanese fielder dropped a catch at the boundary ropes on 49, resulting in a boundary.

At the other end, Bam, who also got a lifeline, brought up his maiden T20I half-century in thrilling fashion, launching a six off the final ball of the innings. Striking one four and six sixes, Bam brought the crowd of nearly 2,000 Nepali supporters to their feet.

For Japan, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Ibrahim Takahashi, Jake Kusuda-Nairn and Declan Suzuki picked up a wicket each.

Nepal will face Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning.