UAE beat Nepal by 5-wicket

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Oct. 31: Captain Rohit Paudel’s second ODI century went in vain as Nepal slumped to a five-wicket defeat against bottom-placed United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series in Dubai on Thursday.

This marks Nepal’s second consecutive loss in Dubai, following a heavy 107-run defeat to the USA in their opening fixture. Nepal have now lost 11 of their 18 matches in the tournament, while hosts UAE registered their fourth win from the same number of games.

Nepal looked off-colour in both departments today.

Opting to bat first, Nepal were bundled out for 233 in their full quota of 50 overs. 

Skipper Paudel held the innings together with a gritty knock of 109 off 130 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. He reached his century off 126 deliveries, notching up his second ODI ton—the first coming against Papua New Guinea in 2022.

Nepal’s top order faltered early, losing Kushal Bhurtel (7) and Bhim Sharki (3) cheaply to slump to 26/2. 

Aasif Sheikh added 35 before falling at 61/3 in the 18th over. Paudel then stitched a 70-run stand with Aarif Sheikh for the fourth wicket. Aarif made 27 off 42 before departing in the 33rd over with Nepal at 131/4.

Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee joined Paudel and added 54 runs for the fifth wicket before being run out for 23. Gulshan Jha was dismissed for duck, leaving Nepal reeling at 186/6 in the 42nd over.

Paudel and Sompal Kami added 24 runs for the seventh wicket to take Nepal past 200. However, both fell in the 48th over—Sompal for 6 and Paudel for 109. 

Karan KC chipped in with 13, while Sandeep Lamichhane remained unbeaten on 3. Lalit Rajbanshi was dismissed for a duck, ending Nepal’s innings.

UAE debutant Zahid Ali impressed with figures of 4/41 from six overs. Junaid Siddique returned 3/54 from his full spell, while Muhammad Rohid and Haider Ali claimed one wicket apiece.

In reply, UAE chased down the target comfortably in 43.3 overs, finishing at 237/5.

Openers Alishan Sharafu and Aryansh Sharma gave UAE a flying start with a 63-run opening stand. Alishan was dismissed for 45 by Karan KC, and Sohaib Khan fell for a duck to Sandeep. 

Nepal’s bowlers struggled to make inroads thereafter. UAE skipper Rahul Chopra retired hurt on 15 with the score at 118. Mohammad Waseem joined Aryansh and added 76 runs for the third wicket before being run out for 26.

Aryansh fell agonisingly short of a maiden century, dismissed for 98 via a caught-and-bowled by Lamichhane in the 34th over. 

His knock, studded with 10 fours and three sixes, was his highest ODI score, surpassing his previous best of 57. He, however, was adjudged Player of the match. 

After Harshit Kaushik (13) was dismissed in the 40th over, UAE needed just 16 runs from 58 balls. Dhruv Parashar (16) and Zahid Ali (11) saw the hosts home without further loss.

For Nepal, Lamichhane bagged 2/34 from 10 overs, while Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee picked up a wicket each. Nepal will next take on table-toppers USA on Saturday.