KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 12

Nepal faced a 25-run defeat at the hands of United Arab Emirates in the second match of the Quadrangular T20I Series in Muscat today.

Put into bat first, the UAE posted 192-3 in their allotted 20 overs before restricting Nepal to 167-5. Nepal had defeated hosts Oman by six wickets in the opening match of the series yesterday.

Ireland are the fourth team in the series, which is also the practice for the teams ahead of ICC T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers slated for February 18-24 in Muscat.

Chasing an imposing 193-run target, Nepal openers Gyanendra Malla and Aasif Sheikh scored 53 runs in the first six power play overs. Former skipper Malla was the first to depart for 22 off 19 balls that included two fours and a six, while Sheikh scored 29-ball 34 hitting four boundaries and a six.

Nepali batters then failed to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular interval.

Dipendra Singh Airee, who scored a brilliant half century against Oman yesterday, top scored with 33-ball 41, while debutante Lokesh Bam struck two each fours and sixes in his 21-ball 33. Aarif Sheilh (11) and Sharad Vesawkar (10 not out) also contributed in double figures.

Kashif Daud and Rohan Mustafa took two wickets each for the UAE.

Earlier, Nepal made a breakthrough when Shahab Alam had UAE opener Muhammad Waseem caught by Dipendra Singh Airee with just 23 runs on the board. Chirag Suri and Rohan Mustafa took the match away from Nepal with 97-run partnership for the second wicket in 11 overs. Suri top scored with an unbeaten 84 off just 53 balls that included five each fours and sixes, while Mustafa struck five boundaries and two sixes in his 35-ball 49.

Basil Hameed (17) and Mohammad Boota (14 not out) also chipped in valuable runs. Suri and Boota added 42 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket in the last 21 balls. Skipper Sandeep Lamichhane, Shahab Alam and Aarif Sheikh took one wicket each for Nepal. Ireland, UAE and Nepal all have two points each, while Oman are yet to open their accounts.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 13, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.