Kathmandu, March 6
Nepal defeated the United Arab Emirates by 42 runs in the One Day International Tri-series match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today.
Batting first, Nepal recovered to 229-8 in their allotted 50 overs before packing the home team for 187 runs with 30 balls to spare. With 15 each wins and losses and a draw, Nepal accumulated 32 points and moved one place up to fifth position.
The UAE slipped to sixth with 31 points, while Papua New Guinea are at the bottom on nine points.
With their seventh win in eight matches of the last two tri-series, Nepal remained on course for a spot in top three in the seven-team table and earn a berth in the World Cup Global Qualifiers. Nepal, UAE and PNG will now play the last ODI tri-series of the League-II at the TU Stadium from March 9-16. Nepal need to win all four matches to unseat Namibia, who currently hold the third place with 39 points. Scotland have already won the title with 50 points from 36 matches, while Oman are second on 44. The United States are at the fourth position with 35 points, three more than Nepal.
In the last match of the series in Dubai, Nepal made a disastrous start with the bat after skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel won the toss. Opener Aasif Sheikh (six) was dismissed with just 14 runs on the board, while Gyanendra Malla (11), skipper Paudel (one), Kushal Malla (32) and Dipendra Singh Airee (four) lost their wickets in the space of 34 runs as Nepal were reduced to 68-5 in 17.1 overs. Malla hit four boundaries and two fours in his run-a-ball innings.
Bhim Sharki and Aarif Sheikh were involved in four important partnerships to help the team post a challenging total. Sharki and Sandeep Lamichhane added 56 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the innings before Sharki combined with Aarif Sheikh to share a 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Sheikh and Karan KC shared a 24-run stand for the eighth wicket, while Sheikh and Pratis GC added 25 runs for the unbroken ninth wicket in the last 13 balls to help the team post a challenging total.
Player-of-the-match Sharki top scored with 70 off 99 balls that included seven hits to the fence, while Lamichhane contributed 27 off 40 balls. Sheikh hit two fours and a six in his unbeaten 56-ball 43 and GC remained unbeaten on six-ball 11 that included a four. KC struck one each four and six in his 11-ball 17.
Junaid Siddique was the pick of the UAE bowlers taking 3-53 and he was ably supported by Aryan Lakra (2-30) and Rohan Mustafa (2-43). Karthik Meiyappan also grabbed a wicket for the home side.
In reply, Sompal Kami bowled UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem in the second ball of the innings before Asif Khan and Aryan Lakra added 94 runs for the second wicket. The hosts were nicely cruising towards victory and were strongly placed at 146-3 inside 34 overs.
But Nepali bowlers, led by Kami and Dipendra Singh Airee, claimed the last seven wickets in the space of 41 runs to pack the UAE with five overs to spare.
Khan top-scored with 82 off 115 balls with the help of two fours and three sixes, while Lakra hit four boundaries and a six in his 78-ball 50. Vriitya Aravind (13) was the only other UAE batter to score in double figures.
Airee (3-18) and Kami (3-26) shared six wickets between them, while Karan KC, Lamichhane and Aarif Sheikh grabbed one wicket each.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 7, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
