Kathmandu, October 27
Nepal lost to the UAE in the final of the T20I Triangular Series at the TU Cricket Ground on Friday. This is Nepal’s first loss on home soil since April 2021.
Being asked to bat, Nepali batters could not take advantage of the dropped chances the UAE kept giving them. Even though Kushal Bhurtel did make the most of it and scored a half-century, the rest of the team struggled to get going. Teenager Ayan Afzal Khan proved too good for the Nepali batters on the day as he did not let them get away picking up Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Malla.
Bhurtel soon followed them back to the dressing room as Nepal were reduced to 68 for three. Just as a partnership was brewing between Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee however, both of them threw their wickets away as Nepal had to rely on a late burst from Karan KC to get to 162 from their allotted 20 overs.
In reply, the UAE batters started the game in attacking fashion with Muhammed Waseem making the most of the lives the Nepali fielders gave him scoring a quick-fire 45 and putting up a 71-run stand with opener Aryansh Sharma. Nepal did rally by taking some wickets making the game interesting but it was too late as UAE beat Nepal for only the second time in 2023.
Despite ending up on the losing side, Karan KC won the Player of the Series for taking 10 wickets in five matches.
