Cricket fans lose it over 'pic of the year' in Nepal World Cup qualifier
Fans around the world have reacted with astonishment at the scenes in Nepal.
The cricket world has watched on in awe as Nepal qualified for the Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 after defeating the UAE on the Duckworth Lewis System. In front of a raucous fanbase at Tribhuvan University Ground, Nepal booked their place for the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe after a nine-run victory in controversial circumstances.
And you could see just how much it meant to Nepal, who now go into a 10 team qualification tournament, with players streaming onto the pitch to celebrate. Nepal needed 42 runs off 36 balls when the umpires came together in the middle of the pitch.
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Bad light appeared to be impacting play and the umpires made the huge call with just six overs left. "Well, what is going to happen here. My oh my. They are going off and I am not sure if the crowd knows it," commentator Andrew Leonard said.
"We are going to check. I think this could be the moment. They are sprinting on and they know they are ahead on DLS. This is extraordinary...the crowd think they are going to Zimbabwe."
Nepal were ahead on DLS and taking the two points meant they jumped in front of Namibia on the table to secure one more chance of qualification in the next phase. The batters at the time appeared to be unaware of the score until their teammates ran onto the pitch in jubilation. While the match finished in dramatic circumstances, the scenes surrounding the game could only fill cricket fans with joy.
So hard sum up the emotions after the most surreal end to today's epic contest
I hope we did the ending justice on air but it really was mass confusion!
Congrats to Nepal who qualify with 11 wins from last 12 but spare a thought too for Namibia who were brilliant through #CWCL2 pic.twitter.com/AH45ysGJL6β Andrew Leonard (@CricketBadge) March 16, 2023
Cricket world loses it over Nepal fans
Nepal might be in the Cricket World Cup League 2 division, but their support is top tier. Rivalling some of the top atmospheres in world cricket, Nepal fans turned up in the thousands to cheer on their team.
Fans were photographed climbing trees outside the stadium to get a glimpse of their team's historic moment. Scottish international cricketer Kyle Coetzer described the images as 'simply amazing', while the Barmy Army social account also acknowledged the stunning scenes.
Pic of the year so far: Crowd for UAE vs Nepal match.
Nepal Cricket fans are one of the crazy fans in cricket. pic.twitter.com/NteqaDgvEtβ Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 16, 2023
The real winner today was Associate Cricket & the structure that @ICC have in place on the Road to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the exposure & interest in the developing nations has never been higher, and the quality of cricket has never been better.
Grow the game! pic.twitter.com/KUZvqV4otLβ Andrew Leonard (@CricketBadge) March 16, 2023
Incredible scenes. So so happy for Nepal cricket. Soul of cricket lives in the subcontinent π«Ά https://t.co/tUUHOq6zOn
β Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 16, 2023
A capacity crowd watched on in Kirtipur as Nepal - against all the odds - secured a spot in the CWC Qualifiers with a dramatic victory against UAE π
Amazing scenes! π³π΅
πΈ @CricketNep #NEPvUAE #CWCLeague2 pic.twitter.com/WExvkS72zUβ Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 16, 2023
Simply amazing scenes in #Kathmandu!!! The following and passion for cricket in #Nepal is incredible!!! Well done to @rohitpaudel17 @montydesai & @CricketNep for their brilliant run of performances to qualify for the @ICC CWC Qualifiers ππΌππΌππΌ #CWCLeague2 https://t.co/YiDHCZBfaD
β Kyle Coetzer (@MeerGoose11) March 16, 2023
Cricket matches selling out in Nepal π
The game is going global π
πΈ @CricketNep pic.twitter.com/AQ5DxPu8uGβ England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) March 16, 2023
Nepal win it against UAE on DLS count after bad light stops play.
UAE are furious and livid with the results. Nepal are going to the World Cup Qualifier.β Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 16, 2023
Fans are watching the today's ODI match Nepal vs UAE on the trees - Nepal fans are crazy for cricket and his team! pic.twitter.com/pro24WBLnd
β CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 16, 2023
The Rhinos were able to successfully chase down the UAE's 310 (with the help of DLS) after Bhim Sarki scored 67 runs and and Kushal Bhurtel posted 50 for their combined partnership. Then Aarif Sheikh hit 52 runs in the middle overs to help lead the charge.
Teen Gulsan Jha scored 50 not out in the back-end of the innings to help Nepal get to the required runs before bad light stopped play and The Rhinos claimed the vital two points.
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