2011-2012

I was planning to write this in the final two hours of 2011 but I happened to be somewhere else then. Maybe I will be able to write a proper review in 2012. It's going to be a different year than the ones that I've spent so far. I'll be back in Nepal near the end but I'll be spending nine months away. Let's see what this year has in store for me.

Lucky Win

ACC Twenty20 Cup 2011, Nepal

Nepal are hosting the ACC Twenty20 Cup where the semifinalists will have the right to play in the global qualifiers for the World Cup. Nepal's hopes of qualification are quite slim though. If the United Arab Emirates (UAE) fail to beat Saudi Arabia (KSA) in tomorrow's last group match, then Nepal will qualify for the semi-finals. However, that is quite an unlikely result. The match may be washed out because of rain. But the weather in Kathmandu has been quite stable lately. The only relief for Nepal is that it's not enough for UAE to just win. If the match is close, then Nepal will qualify. KSA are the whipping boys of group B and that seems quite unlikely. So, here is the scenario under which Nepal may qualify for the semi-finals of this tournament, and as a result of it, to the World Cup qualifiers.

If UAE bat first, the number of runs they need to win by will depend upon the total that they put up on the board. If they score 6663 runs (an impossible score), even winning by one run will be enough. If UAE only put up 75 runs on the board, then they will have to win by 71 runs. If they score 175, they will only need to win by 70 runs. Even if they score 250, they will still have to win by 69 runs. So that's not much of a difference. UAE will have to win by about 70 runs in general if they bat first.

If KSA bat first, the number of overs in which UAE must overcome the target will depend on the number of runs KSA score and also the number of runs by which UAE surpass KSA's score. For example, if KSA bat first and score 97, their average score in the three matches so far, UAE will have to reach their target in 10 overs and 1 ball if they were to score 98 runs. However, they can take 10 overs and 5 balls if they win by hitting a six off the last ball after the scores are level. If KSA are dismissed for a meagre 50 runs, UAE can reach their target in 9 overs and 1 balls and be safely through. However, if KSA manage 125 runs, UAE will have to chase it down within 10 overs and 4 balls or 11 overs and 2 balls if they hit a six after scores are level.

So, there is still hope for Nepal. Nepal had to play their last match before both Hong Kong and UAE and that was a big disadvantage for Nepal. Hong Kong and UAE will both know exactly what they have to do to qualify from the group. However, Nepal have had their slice of luck in the tournament too. The matches against Hong Kong and Kuwait could have gone either way and both matches went into Nepal's favour. Maybe  this tournament will prove to be a lucky one for Nepal.

Today someone guessed that KSA will be all out for 88 after Mehboob Alam scored 88 in Nepal's total of 183/5 against them. They got it spot on. Maybe my prediction of the scores in tomorrow's match will also become a reality and send Nepal through.

KSA win the toss and elect to bat
KSA 93 all out (19.2 overs)
UAE 3/95 (10.2 overs)
UAE win by 7 wickets with 58 balls to spare but miss out on qualification on net run rate.

A game of Chess I played recently.

From STC Bunch Tourney

Disappointment

I returned home by sacrificing a nice time outside to watch ten seconds of sprinting. I had assumed Usain Bolt would quailfy for the hundred meters finals in the World Athletics Championships in Daegu. I was certain that Bolt would win the race. The only question was whether or not he could better his world record. At least that was what I thought. Since I haven't been following Athletics lately, I was not aware of the new law regarding false starts. Usain Bolt false started and I felt like turning off my TV. I waited until Yohan Blake crossed the finishing line. Usain Bolt is no longer the World Champion but he is still Olympic Champion and holds the world record. He has the 200 meters race still to run and then there will probably be the relay. It was disappointing to see him fail.

Network Problems

I have not written anything at all in this blog lately. I have been in Rukum during the last twelve days. I have gone out for a run only once and the total time with CDMA mobile network has been about twenty hours I guess. That means less internet for me. Hello Nepal mobile has meant that I have been able to make and receive a few phone calls though. Most calls have been from the same number, though.

Got the blog back

I hadn't been writing much on this blog recently. But then again, I thought it was here. However, it turned out that this blog had been removed. But after doing a few things online I was able to get this blog back. At least it was saved somewhere even though it was removed.

I haven't written anything for a while. I think this should change. I should write a little more often.

Different Run

I usually run like this. I leave home walking. I reach a starting point. I start running. I run. I reach a finishing point. Then, I walk back home.

Today, it was different. I started at a certain point and stopped at another. Then I became pillion rider on a scooter. I carried a water filter with me. I reached a building and went inside and stayed there having a cup of tea. Then I was pillion rider again to the top of a hill. Then I started running again. I reached a certain point where I wanted to come home faster on a vehicle. I entered a three-wheeler but it was going slow. So, I left it after about hundred meters when I realized that it would stop and take me longer to reach home than it would if I had run all the way. So, I got out of the tempo and ran again. I stopped running at Gaushala and then walked home.

The good thing is that I ran in Kathmandu again. It feels very good. I love running. Today was also the first time when I ran in Kathmandu without peeking into anyone's face.

Four runless days

I think I should make up for it by running long soon. The daily running habit felt really good. I love running. I shouldn't stop. I won't stop either. At Kiteni, I will run. Kathmandu is a bit polluted. But I could at least do some sit ups and push ups. I'll do just that now.