Nepal has wrapped up UAE for a mere total in the last group-stage match of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Kushal Bhurtel was the star for Nepal with a maiden List A five-wicket haul as they shrunk UAE to 157 in 44 overs.
UAE had an average start and were 52/1 at one stage, but they lost a wicket continuously and were restricted to a small total. They lost nine wickets for 105 runs.
Kushal Malla and Pawan Sarraf picked the first and second wickets, respectively. Kushal Bhurtel then surprisingly dismissed six consecutive batters. Shyam Dhakal sent back the last two batters to wrap things up.
Opener Lovepreet Singh top-scored for UAE with 52 runs. Ethan Dsouza and Ashwant Valthapa contributed 18 and 16 runs, respectively.
Kushal Bhurtel, who grabbed the maiden List A fifer, was the pick of a bowler for Nepal. He bowled a full ten-over spell and conceded 40 runs, grabbing six wickets. Shyam Dhakal playing a debut List A match, pocketed two wickets (9-0-44-2). Pawan Sarraf (10-3-19-1) and Kushal Malla grabbed one scalp each.
Nepal made four changes for the match, playing Arjun Saud, Sundeep Jora, Pratish GC and Shyam Dhakal (Mousam) in place of Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi.
Both teams are already out of the top four race with a defeat against India A and Pakistan A.
