Rain threatens Sri Lanka-Nepal T20I quarter-final clash today

Rain which washed out the first two quarter-finals that saw India and Pakistan both going through to the semi-finals threatens the third quarter-final between Sri Lanka and Nepal at Nisshin at 5.30 am today.

The last four games in the competition have had three washouts without the toss taking place, and one was abandoned after 15 overs. If the same fate befalls the Nepal vs. Sri Lanka game, it favours Sri Lanka, who will go through to the semi-finals, like India and Pakistan, for being the higher-seeded team. The winners will take on India.

Nepal had a cracking start in the tournament when they took down Afghanistan – a second-string side, though – who are ranked four slots higher than them, led by their spinners Kushal Bhurtel and Lalit Rajbanshi. It extended their T20I winning streak to six games, in which they have beaten six different oppositions across three countries. Not long before that streak started, Nepal had flown the Associates flag flying at the T20 World Cup when they gave England an almighty scare and then brought Scotland down with a riot of a victory in Mumbai.

If the rain relents in Nisshin, Nepal will back themselves against a team that is on a losing streak. Sri Lanka were blanked 3-0 in England just ten days ago where they were unable to reach 150 even once while England scored at 12 an over or more in each of the games. Before that, they also lost the T20Is 2-1 in the Caribbean and had exited the T20 World Cup with four losses on the bounce, including one to Zimbabwe.

The last time Sri Lanka won a game was in June. The last time they scored over 150 was also in June. The last time they breached 200 was in February. It could be an engrossing contest.

Sri Lanka has sent their second string side to Japan, while their first team was playing in England. Thus, Sahan Arachchige’s men will have a tough contest in their hands against a high riding Nepal side.