Nepal registered a dramatic 1-run win against the UAE in the Super Six stage of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier.
Chasing a target of 141, the UAE could only manage 139 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a valiant half-century from Alishan Sharafu, who scored 58 runs, the UAE fell just short of the target. Dhruv Parashar added 38 runs.
At one stage, UAE were cruising at 82/1, but Nepal fought back strongly to turn the tide. From 99/6, Dhruv Parashar kept UAE’s hopes alive with some big hits late in the innings.
In the final over, with 10 runs required, Dipendra Singh Airee was handed the ball. Parashar hit a six early in the over but was dismissed soon after. With 3 runs needed off the last 2 balls, a run-out and a short-run call meant UAE could add only one run, falling short by 1 run in a nail-biting finish.
For Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee took 3 wickets for 22 runs in his 4 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, and Gulshan Jha each claimed a wicket.
Earlier, Nepal, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, scored 140/6 in 20 overs, led by opener Aasif Sheikh’s half-century. He scored 51 runs off 47 balls, while Kushal Bhurtel contributed 28 and captain Rohit Paudel added 20. Gulshan Jha chipped in with a quick 14 off 5 balls.
Nepal were 73/1 after the first 10 overs but slowed down considerably in the latter half of the innings.
For the UAE, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid, Zahid Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, and Haider Ali each took one wicket.