Kathmandu, October 12
Nepal clinched a thrilling one-run victory over the UAE in the Super Six stage of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier.
Chasing a target of 141 runs set by Nepal, the UAE managed to score 139 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Despite a half-century from Alishan Sharafu, it wasn’t enough for his team to emerge victorious. He scored 58 runs, while Dhruv Parashar added 38 runs.
At one stage, the UAE was in a strong position at 82 for 1, but Nepal turned the game around by mounting pressure. When the UAE fell to 99 for 6, Parashar came to the crease and kept his team alive with some big shots.
In the final over, the UAE needed 10 runs. Facing Dipendra Singh Airee, Parashar hit a six off the first few balls but was caught out soon after. With 3 runs required from 2 balls, a run-out and a short run followed, leaving the UAE unable to add any more runs. They managed only one run off the final delivery, finishing just one run short of Nepal’s total.
For Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, and Gulshan Jha each took one wicket.
Earlier, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Nepal made140 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs, led by opener Aasif Sheikh’s half-century.
Aasif scored 51 runs off 47 balls. Likewise, Kushal Bhurtel contributed 28 runs, captain Rohit Paudel made 20, and Gulshan Jha added 14 runs off just 5 balls before being dismissed.
Although Nepal reached 73 for 1 in the first 10 overs, their scoring rate slowed in the second half of the innings, preventing them from doubling the total.
For the UAE, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid, Zahid Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, and Haider Ali each claimed one wicket.
