Good morning from Limavady CC where the internet is a bit spotty so apologies for the delay. Nepal has won the toss and elected to bat first against USA. 

Sagar Pun and Faijlur Rahman have opened the batting for Nepal. 7 runs came off the first over bowled by Salman Ahmad. In the second over, Rahman was dropped off back to back balls to end the over. The first was hit to mid off where Suri mistimed his leap and it went off his fingertips and over his head for four. The next ball, Rahman sliced one to point where Jodha Singh had it burst through his hands. 11 came off the over. Two came in the third by Ahmad so the score is now 20/0 in 3. 

 Patel to Pun. Leg bye. Dot. Dot. Wide. Dot. Dot. Five wides, way down leg, Taylor had no chance. Two, short and wide, slashed over point. Nepal 29/0 in 4.

It has been a mystery to me as to why Shahid has bowled one change ... he is your most experienced and talented bowler.

 Hammad Shahid comes on from the Highway End after only 2 overs by Ahmad. Facing Pun, right arm fast medium to a right hand bat. Dot, good length ball hit to midwicket. Dot, very full, driven to mid off. Dot, full and driven to midwicket. Dot, good length and defended. Dot, short of a length on off, defended to point. Dot, good length outside off, Pun flashes at it and misses. Maiden. Nepal 29/0 in 5.

Finally Shahid into action ...

Good morning all!

Patel has been a bit expensive this whole tournament, but two drops certainly do not help.

It's going to be a tense, scoreboard watching day.

Let's go boys!

USA!!  USA!!

 Ahmad switches ends, Patel comes off, Ahmad continues from the Pavilion End now, facing Rahman.Dot, full and defended. Dot, good length ball left outside off. Dot, full outside off and left, umpire thought about giving a wide but kept his arms at his sides. Single, full and clipped to long leg. OUT! Good length ball swinging away outside off, Pun dangles the bat and gets a thin edge through to Taylor. Pun out for 1, Nepal 30/1 in 5.5 overs. Naresh Budhaayer the new man in, right handed. Dot, full outside off and left. Nepal 30/1 in 6.

 

USA made one change today, Amarnauth Persaud comes out for Gurpreet Sandhu.  USA playing another spinner against a team that is especially good against spin.

 Shahid to Rahman. Dot, short of a length on the stumps, fended off to point. Dot, short of a length ball defended to Shahid. Dot, good length ball, Rahman goes to defend and is beaten. Dot, short of a length ball outside off left alone. Dot, full outside off, goes to drive and misses. The umpire is inspecting Shahid's follow through. He's been given official warnings in at least two matches this tournament for running through the danger area. Dot, short outside off and left, another maiden. Nepal 30/1 in 7.

Good one Salman. Keep it there. BTW - Gurpreet for Persaud is like one more bowler who hasnt played for 10 days after being carted around for your top order bat that you will likely need. Bizarre logic.

 Ahmad to Budhaayer. Wide, short outside off and left. Two, full on the legs, clipped through square leg and fielded by long leg. Dot, full outside off, driven to cover. Dot, full outside off and left. Dot, full and guided to point. Wide, full and down leg, diving stop by Taylor saves five. Leg bye, full and going down leg, off the pad straps and Taylor can't collect, Rahman alertly calls for a run. Single, full and pushed to midwicket for a sharp run. Nepal 36/1 in 8.

 Shahid to Rahman. Dot, good length ball defended. First official warning now given to Shahid for running in the danger area. That's at least three games now, maybe four he's gotten a warning. Dot, full and defended. Dot, short on the stumps, defended to Joshi at short midwicket. Dot, slower ball full outside off and defended. Single, good length on the legs, flicked to long leg, first run off Shahid. No ball, full outside off, goes to drive and misses, Shahid oversteps, free hit to come. Dot, bouncer outside off, Budhaayer backs away to cut but can't connect. The umpire had another look at Shahid's followthrough. Nepal 38/1 in 9.

 Ahmad to Rahman. Dot, good length ball defended to cover. The Nepal players have started a game of billiards behind me inside the pavilion. Two, full on the stumps, slogged down the ground, Sandhu dives at mid on but can't cut it off and Suri runs over from mid off to collect it before the rope. FOUR! In the slot outside off, Rahman clobbers it high over Suri at mid off and it bounces just short of the rope in front of the USA bench. Dot, good length ball defended to cover. Dot, full on the stumps and defended to Joshi at short cover.Dot, full outside off, goes for a midwicket slog and misses. Nepal 44/1 in 10.

It's gloriously sunny here at the ground, FYI. 

 Shahid to Budhaayer. Dot, full on the legs, can't get it away. Single, full and pushed into the off side, misfield and they steal a run. OUT! Full on the stumps, tried to flick it it through mid on but got a leading edge back to Shahid. It didn't go very high, but traveled enough for Shahid to bend down and take it at knee height in his follow through. Rahman out for 26, Nepal 45/2 in 10.3 overs. Prithu Baskota is the new man in, right hand bat, Nepal's captain. Dot, good length ball defended. Dot, full on the stumps, inside edge off the pads to Shahid. Two, full outside off, driven through the covers. Nepal 47/2 in 11.

 Ahmad to Budhaayer. Dot, full and driven to cover.Dot, full and defended. Dot, short outside off, tapped to point. Dot, full and pushed to cover. Single, full and driven to long off. Long leg and third man the other two men out during the bowling power play. Dot, good length ball on the hips, can't get it away. Nepal 48/2 in 12.

Good news for USA, Canada is 33/5 against Afghanistan. Much better for USA if Afghanistan wins that game. 

 Shahid to Budhaayer. Single, short on the stumps, pushed to mid on. Shahid has just been given his second warning for running into the danger area. Ridiculous. He's going through there every ball. One more and he can't bowl for the rest of the match. Dot, full and defended to point. Dot, full and defended to cover. OUT! Luck for USA! Full on the stumps, Baskota went to slog over mid on but skied it to Suri coming in from the circle. Suri jogs in, Joshi jogs out from midwicket. Suri spills it badly, off his palms but it popped into the air and Joshi was lurking a few feet away and alertly dove to his left and snagged the ball two feet above the ground. Suri puts hands on head before giving Joshi a pat on the back. Baskota out for 2, Nepal 49/3 in 12.4 overs. Rajesh Pulami Magar the new man in off strike. Dot, good length defended to midwicket. FOUR! Overpitched and driven through Sewdial at short cover, beats mid off easily. Nepal 53/3 in 13.