KATHMANDU, MAY 2

Nepal earned Asia Cup berth following their seven-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in the final of the ACC Premier Cup here at the TU Stadium today.

Resuming the day at 106-9, the UAE could add just 11 runs to be bowled out for 117 runs in 33.1 overs. Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi claimed the remaining wicket when he had Junaid Siddique (10) caught by Kushal Bhurtel. In reply, Nepal recovered from a precarious position of 22-3 to reach 118-3 in 30.3 overs to clinch victory.

Along with the trophy, Nepal earned a berth in the Asia Cup to be held in September in Pakistan. Nepal will get to play at least two dream matches against the likes of India and Pakistan in group stage after they were placed with the giants of world cricket in Group A. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are in Group B. Nepal had qualified for the 2004 Asian Cup but the tournament got cancelled due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel said the world would get to know about Nepal after they played against India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup later this year. As champions of the ACC Premier Cup, Nepal sealed a berth in the Asian Cup and they will play against India and Pakistan in group stage matches.

'The whole team is happy to have earned a berth in the Asia Cup. We grew up watching India and Pakistan play on television. Now we are going to play with them and it will be watched by the whole world,' said Paudel. 'The world will get to know about Nepal and hopefully it will help us open new avenues in world cricket,' added Paudel.

Also, the top three teams of the ACC Premier Cup - Nepal, UAE and Oman - have qualified for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Nepal have been placed in Group A along with 'A' teams from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while the UAE and Oman are in Group B with 'A' teams from Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Chasing a low target, the home team lost opener Kushal Bhurtel (one) in the second over before Aasif Sheikh (eight) and skipper Paudel (one) were dismissed in the space of three runs as the home team came under self-induced pressure at 22-3.

Gulsan Jha, who replaced Dipendra Singh Airee for the match, and Bhim Sharki took the team home with 96-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket in 22.3 overs.

Player-of-the-match Jha remained unbeaten on 67 off 84 balls with the help of three boundaries and six sixes, while Sharki struck four fours in his 72-ball 36 not out. Rohan Mustafa took two wickets and Aayan Afzal Khan grabbed one for the UAE.

The final match of the ACC Premier Cup was scheduled for Monday with a reserve day today. The home team invited the UAE to bat first and reduced them to 106-9 in 27.3 overs before rain interrupted play. No further play was possible and the organisers postponed the remaining match to Tuesday.

Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel's decision to field first paid off as the home team bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.

Sompal Kami made the breakthrough in the fourth over when he had UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem (11) caught by Rajbanshi with 17 runs on the board.

Karan KC then struck twice and Rajbanshi snared a wicket in the space of seven runs to reduce the UAE to 35-4. KC removed Vriitya Aravind (eight) and Aryan Lakra (13), while Rajbanshi accounted for Rameez Shahzad (one). Half of the UAE batters were back to the pavilion after Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Rohan Mustafa (two) in the first ball of the 14th over. The match was halted for around half-anhour when the UAE were reeling at 60-5 in 16 overs.

After resumption, Asif Khan and Basil Hameed added 49 runs for the seventh wicket before Gulsan Jha bowled Hameed (10) in the 23rd over. Lamichhane got his second wicket when he had Aayan Afzal Khan (five) caught by Kushal Malla in the 26th over. The UAE took almost 25 overs to reach three figures, thanks to Asif Khan, who struck seven fours and a six in his 54-ball 46.

Rajbanshi dismissed Asif Khan and Zahoor Khan (naught) in the second and third balls of the 28th over before rain disrupted play for the second time. No further play was possible pushing the match into reserve day.

Rajbanshi claimed the final wicket to finish with the figures of 3-14 from 7.1 overs, while Karan KC and Lamichhane grabbed two wickets each. Kami and Jha pocketed one wicket apiece. Lamichhane, with 13 wickets in six matches and 55 runs, was judged player of the series.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.