Triangular T20 International Cricket Tournament: Nepal defeats UAE by 5 wickets

Kathmandu, Oct 23: Nepal has won today's match held under the ongoing 2023 Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series against the United Arab Emirates by five wickets.    
Chasing a target of 165 runs posted by the UAE, Nepal met it in 19.2 overs at the loss of five wickets.

Nepal's opener batsman Asif Sheikh contributed the highest 62 runs to the team while team captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored 47 and Dipendra Singh Airee remained unbeaten with 40.    

Kushal Bhurtel, Sompal Kami and Kushal Malla were dismissed in three earlier overs of the first inning. However, captain Paudel and Asif partnered for 99, steering team to the victory.    

For the UAE, Muhammad Jawadullah took two wickets, while Akif Raja and Zahoor Khan took each.    

In the match held at local Mulpani Cricket Ground, the UAE was invited to bat first by losing the loss. It has gathered 164 runs in the 20 overs losing seven wickets. For them, Basil Hameed and Vriitya Aravind made equal contributions with 45 runs each, while Asif Khan scored 18.    

On the bowling side, Nepal's Sompal Kami and Abinas Bohara took two wickets each and Karan KC and Gulsan Jha took one wicket each.    

Nepal had defeated the UAE in the opening match of the series with seven wickets and it won two consecutive matches against Hong Kong first by six wickets and next by 69 runs. It will meet either the UAE or Hong Kong for the final.  (RSS)