Kathmandu, October 18
Nepal have started off the T20I Triangular Series with a seven-wicket victory over the UAE at the Mulpani International Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Put in to bat first, the UAE did not have the best of starts losing opener Khalid Shah in the first over. The batters struggled as Nepal kept on taking wickets sending back Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem and Asif Khan cheaply reducing the UAE to 52 for four.
Ali Naseer and Basil Hameed put up a 56-run stand to settle the innings and take the UAE to 140 in the allotted 20 overs.
Karan KC was superb with the ball picking up three wickets. Gulshan Jha picked up two wickets while Sompal Kami and Abinash Bohara picked up a wicket each.
In reply, Nepal started cautiously. They lost Kushal Bhurtel in the powerplay. Kushal Malla soon followed Bhurtel to the dressing room after a mixup with Aasif Sheikh resulted in Malla being run out. Sheikh himself could not get going and was out for 23.
The innings was then taken forward by Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee who carefully navigated a tough patch to bring the match under Nepal’s control. Airee was particularly impressive with his running between the wickets and power-hitting. Paudel was equally impressive with a calm innings helping Nepal to a solid win against their long-time rival.
Paudel scored 51 while Airee scored 34 as the two put up a 93-run stand.
Nepal will play Hong Kong on Thursday.
