Oman Clinches Thrilling Victory Over Nepal

to spare in Wednesday’s ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 match. Needing 10 runs in the final over, No. 11 batsman Kaleemullah struck a decisive boundary on the second-to-last ball to bring Oman to 223 for nine, surpassing Nepal's total of 220 for nine set in their 50 overs.

Kaleemullah, who contributed six runs, and No. 9 batsman Shakeel Ahmed, who added 17, were instrumental in the last over, both scoring off Sompal Kami’s bowling. Opener Latinder Singh top-scored for Oman with 41 runs.

Despite the loss, Nepal's Gulsan Jha was named man of the match for his exceptional all-round performance. The 18-year-old made 53 runs and claimed a career-best five-wicket haul. His explosive 35-ball knock featured five sixes and three fours, including 23 runs in the 46th over alone, where he hit Aqib Ilyas for two sixes, two fours, and two additional runs.

Nepal captain Rohit Paudel led his side with a solid 60 runs, but it wasn't enough to secure the win.

The triangular series, hosted at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground, will see Canada face Oman on Friday, followed by matches against Nepal on Sunday and Oman again on September 26.

Each of the eight teams in the World League 2 will play 36 one-day internationals across nine triangular series through December 2026. The top four teams will advance to a World Cup qualifier to determine the final spots in the expanded 14-team Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. 

Canada (5-4) currently sits second in the League 2 standings, with the Netherlands leading the table at 6-2. Oman holds sixth place with a record of 2-2, while Nepal has struggled with a 1-5 record.

Canada, which made its debut in the T20 World Cup this summer, is aiming to qualify for the 50-over Cricket World Cup for the first time since 2011, after missing out on the last three editions. The Canadian men previously participated in the 1979, 2003, and 2007 tournaments but were eliminated in the group stages each time.

Earlier this year, the Canadian team regained its one-day international status by finishing in the top four of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff in April 2023, held in Bermuda.