The final match of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup is set to resume on reserve day after the continuous rain at TU Cricket Ground. UAE were rattled down to 106/9 in 27.3 overs while the rain interrupted the match. It was not possible to continue after persistent rain.
The reserve day’s play will start at 9:00 AM from exactly where it was stopped. Therefore UAE will start at 106/9 in 27.3 overs with Lalit Rajbanshi on a hat-trick.
There was a slight delay in the match when UAE were 60 for the loss of 5 wickets in 16 overs. Sompal Kami dismissed Muhammad Waseem (11) in the fourth over, while his pace duo Karan KC sent back another in-form UAE batter Vriitya Aravind in the next over.
Karan got better of Aryan Lakra, who struggled with 28-ball 13. Rameez Shahzad was dismissed cheaply by Rajbanshi as Nepal managed to pick four wickets within the powerplay, conceding 35 runs.
Sandeep Lamichhane got into the action sending Rohan Mustafa back to the pavilion in the 14th over. Aasif Khan then tried to uplift UAE’s inning sharing 39 runs for the sixth wicket with Baseel Hameed. Hameed became the victim of Gulshan Jha after scoring ten runs.
Aayan Khan could not do any special and gave away his wicket to Sandeep Lamichhane. A couple of overs later, Lalit Rajbanshi dismissed dangerous Aasif Khan, followed by Zahoor Khan in the next ball. Asif made 46 runs with seven fours and one six.
If the match is not possible even on the reserve day, then Nepal will be adjudged the winner and qualify for the Asia Cup. They will join India and Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup 2023, which will take place in September.
Nepal, along with UAE and Oman, are already confirmed to play ACC Emerging Cup. India A, Pakistan A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A and the top three teams of the Premier Cup will battle in the tournament.
