Defeating UAE, Nepal qualifies for Asia Cup

Published On: May 2, 2023 02:15 PM NPT By: Samiksha Shrestha

Sandeep Lamichhane declared the best player of the tournament

KATHMANDU, May 2: Nepal has been selected for the Asia Cup by defeating the UAE in the final of the ACC Premier Cup. Today, Nepal defeated the UAE by 7 wickets and won the title and was selected for the Asia Cup.

Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane was declared the best player of the tournament. Lamichhane, who took 13 wickets in a total of 5 matches of the tournament, also scored the highest 42 runs in the match against Qatar.

In terms of batting, Sandeep contributed 42 runs without getting out in the match against Qatar. Vritya Aravind of the UAE was adjudged the best batsman of the tournament.

Vritya scored a total of 454 runs with two centuries and one half-century in six matches. Oman's fast bowler Bilal Khan was selected as the best bowler of the tournament. Bilal took 17 wickets in six matches.

In today's match, Nepal was able to chase the small target of 118 runs given by the UAE in 30 overs and 3 balls. Nepal won the final match by seven wickets. Nepal has managed to qualify for the Asia Cup.

After playing for the second day today, the UAE was bowled out for 117 runs after not completing the match yesterday due to rain. Today, the UAE started the game with 106 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Yesterday, due to rain, the game was stopped after the UAE scored 106 runs after losing 9 wickets. Today, the UAE was all out for 117 runs.

Nepal achieved the target by losing 3 wickets in 30.3 overs. In Nepal's win, Gulsan Jha remained unbeaten on 67 runs off 84 balls with 3 fours and 6 sixes. Bhim Sharki remained at the crease for 36 runs off 72 balls with 4 fours.

This is the second fifty of Jha's ODI career. He completed his half-century in 75 balls. Last month, Gulshan scored a half-century against the UAE in the ICC World Cup League 2 triangular one-day series in Nepal.

Nepal did not start well. Nepal lost their opener Kushal Bhurtel for one run on the second ball of the second over. He was dismissed by UAE spinner Rohan Mustafa.

Similarly, in the first ball of the seventh over, Ayan Khan of the UAE dismissed the other Nepali opener Aasif Sheikh for 8 runs. In the last ball of the eighth over, Mustafa again bowled out Nepali captain Rohit Paudel for 1 run and Nepal reached the state of 22 for 3. The UAE used spinners for the first 18 overs of the match.

UAE spinner Rohan Mustafa took 2 wickets in 10 overs with 3 maiden overs for 13 runs.

After losing the toss yesterday at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, the UAE, who were invited to bat first, scored 117 runs in 33.31 overs when play was stopped due to rain. The UAE's Aasif Khan top-scored with 46 runs. The UAE's Junaid Siddique, the team’s last wicket, scored 10 runs.

UAE captain Mohammad Wasim scored 11 runs while the rest of the batters failed to score double-digit runs. Nepal's bowler Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi took 4 wickets by giving 14 runs including 2 maiden overs in 7.1 overs. Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets each. Sompal Kami and Gulsan Jha took one wicket each.

The Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan this coming September. Along with Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and ACC Premier Cup winner Nepal will compete in the tournament.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four. The top two teams from the Super Four will play in the final. The Asia Cup is organized by the ACC as preparation for the Asian teams before the ODI World Cup.