KATHMANDU: Nepal takes on Canada today in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 One-Day International (ODI) series in Oman, with a victory potentially securing Nepal’s place in the top six.
The match will be played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground and is scheduled to begin at 11:15 am Nepali time.
Both teams are looking to strengthen their positions in the standings. Canada, currently seventh, needs a win to keep its hopes of breaking into the top six alive, while Nepal is aiming for a third consecutive victory in the series to confirm its place with one match remaining.
Nepal currently sits one point ahead of Canada, having collected 28 points from 34 matches, with 13 wins, 19 losses and two tied matches. Canada has 27 points from 35 matches, including 11 wins, 19 losses and five tied matches.
Nepal has won both its opening matches in the current series. It defeated Canada by 24 runs in the first match before recording a convincing 113-run victory over hosts Oman in the second. The team will be looking to maintain that momentum against Canada.
Canada, meanwhile, will seek revenge for its opening-match defeat and aim to keep its top-six ambitions alive. The team demonstrated its batting strength by defeating Oman by 58 runs in its previous match, scoring 256 runs after batting first. Nepal will therefore need to contain Canada’s batting while maintaining consistency with the bat.
Nepal has posted competitive totals in both matches of the series, scoring 235 runs against Canada and 263 against Oman. With teams batting first having won the matches played in the series so far, the toss and performance in the opening innings could prove significant.
Nepal’s head-to-head record against Canada
Nepal has won four of the six ODIs played against Canada, while Canada has won two. Nepal also won the teams’ most recent meeting in 2024 and will aim to extend its favorable record.
A victory today would confirm Nepal’s place in the top six and ease the pressure ahead of its final match against Oman. However, a defeat would leave Nepal needing to beat Oman in the last match to strengthen its position in the standings.
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