Nepal has registered the first-ever ODI series win on the home ground. After losing the first match, the home side came back well in the remaining matches to clinch the series 2-1. Nepal’s first ODI series win was also against UAE.
Chasing an average total of 177, Aasif Sheikh and Gyanendra Malla’s half-century inspired Nepal to chase the target with 59 balls spare.
Nepal had a steady start scoring just 24 runs and losing Arjun Saud from the powerplay. Malla and Sheikh then added 122 runs for the second wicket. Malla completed his fifth half-century and made his new high score (64) before departing. His 73-balls included seven fours and three sixes. Aasif Sheikh remained unbeaten for 88(119). He hammered 12 fours and finished things with a boundary itself.
Hazrat Bilal and Aaayan Khan picked up one wicket each for UAE.
Earlier in the first inning, Invited to bat first, UAE posted a medium total of 176 runs after a big last-wicket stand. Despite being 93/9 in 32nd over, Aayan Khan and Hazrat Bilal added 83 runs to guide UAE towards a respectful total.
Gulshan Jha and Sompal Kami yielded a superb start early on, sending back Muhammad Waseem (11), Vriitya Aravind (0) and CP Rizwan (4) within the fourth over. Rohan Mustafa (24) and Alishan Sharafu (33) then shared 63 runs for the fourth wicket to stabilise the inning. However, Mustafa’s dismissal in the fourth over saw a collapse as they lost the next five wickets for mere 14 runs, turning down to 93/9 in 32nd over.
The last duo then batted courageously to guide UAE past a triple-digit score. Aayan Khan scored an unbeaten 54 runs and added 83 runs for the last wicket with Hazrat Bilal, who contributed 20*. This is the highest score for both players.
Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel and Gulshan Jha picked up a couple of wickets for Nepal. Similarly, Lalit Rajbanshi and Sompal Kami pocketed one wicket each.
