KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 22

Nepal's dreams of playing in the ICC T20 World Cup for the second time were shattered when they faced a 68-run defeat at the hands of the United Arab Emirates in the semi-final match of the Global Qualifiers at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat today.

Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane lost the toss for the fourth straight time and UAE posted 175- 7 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Nepal - the only unbeaten side in the league round - were dismissed for 107 runs with eight balls to spare. UAE and Ireland - who beat Oman by 56 runs in another semi-final match - earned tickets to Australia for the World Cup to be held later this year.

Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane rued the missed opportunity.

'It was one of those days where nothing worked for us. We were totally outplayed by the UAE.

They played better than us in all departments of the game,' Lamichhane told the ICC. 'Despite not making to the World Cup, I am proud of my boys. They showed great character during the Qualifiers.

I am sorry to Nepal cricket fans that we couldn't qualify. UAE kept us under pressure from the start and never let us make a comeback. All credit to them.'

Nepal made a perfect start dismissing Chirag Suri (four) with six runs on the board after Jitendra Mukhiya bowled the opener in the second over. Opener Muhammad Waseem shared two crucial partnerships to take the match away from Nepal. He combined with Vriitya Aravinda to add 66 runs for the second wicket before sharing a 64-run stand for the third wicket with Muhammad Usman.

Nepal had managed to reduce the UAE to 140-3 inside 17 overs but the bowlers conceded 35 runs in the last three overs as the UAE posted an imposing total. Waseem top scored with 70 off just 48 balls that included four each boundaries and sixes, while Aravinda struck five fours and three sixes in his 23-ball 46. Usman (17) and Zawar Farid (11) chipped in valuable runs, while Rohan Mustafa and skipper Ahmed Raza remained unbeaten on nine and six runs respectively on their way to adding 14 runs for the unbroken eighth wicket in just seven balls.

Jitendra Mukhiya (3-35) and Abinash Bohara (3-46) shared six wickets between them, while Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane grabbed one.

In reply, Nepal were never in contention after losing opener Aasif Sheikh and Lokesh Bam - both for ducks - in the first over, at the hands of Junaid Siddique.

The 36-run partnership between Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh for the fourth wicket was the highest in Nepal's innings.

Airee and Gyanendra Malla shared a 33-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Ahmed Raza removed both of them in consecutive deliveries reducing Nepal to 83-6 inside 13 overs.

Airee top scored with run-a-ball 38 hitting three fours, while Malla struck one each four and six in his 16-ball 20. Aarif Sheikh (11) was the only other batsman to contribute in double figures for Nepal as they lost last six wickets for 24 runs. Raza completed his five-wicket haul claiming 5-19 from four overs, while Junaid Siddique took 3-27 and Zahoor Khan and Rohan Mustafa grabbed one each for UAE.

Nepal will now play against Oman in the third-place playoff match on Thursday, while the UAE and Ireland will face each other in final.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 23, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.