Saudi Arabia's hopes dashed by Nepal in ACC Cup

Saudi Arabia's hopes of advancing to the semifinals of the 2024 ACC Men's Premier Cup were dashed as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat to defending champions Nepal in their final Group A match. The match, played at the Oman Cricket Academy in Al-Amerat, was reduced to eight overs per side due to overnight thunder and rain that damaged the pitch.

Abdul Waheed emerged as the standout performer for Saudi Arabia, scoring 37 runs from 16 balls. However, the rest of the team struggled to make an impact with the bat, posting a total of 73-7. In response, Nepal faced early setbacks but recovered well, with Gulshan Jha's 32 off 19 balls guiding them to victory.

Saudi Arabia's captain, Hisham Shaikh, expressed pride in his team's effort against a strong Nepali side, highlighting the need for more experience in closing out games. Despite a promising start to their campaign, including a victory over Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia fell short in crucial matches against Malaysia and Qatar.

With Nepal securing a spot in the semifinals as Group A winners, Hong Kong also advanced on net run-rate. In Group B, Oman, UAE, and Kuwait are vying for the remaining semifinal berths. The tournament's final is scheduled for April 21, with the winner earning a place in the prestigious ACC Asia Cup next year.