UAE beat Nepal by 5 wickets remaining 39 balls left
Kathmandu – Aryansh Sharma’s magnificent knock of 98 overshadowed a valiant century from Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel, as the United Arab Emirates secured a comfortable five-wicket victory in their ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter.
The UAE chased down Nepal’s total of 233 with 39 balls to spare, reaching 237/5 in 43.3 overs.
The Chase: UAE’s Dominance
Chasing a competitive target of 234, the UAE got off to a blistering start, led by a stunning assault from opener Alishan Sharafu. He smashed an explosive 45 from just 26 balls, including six fours and three sixes, to put Nepal’s bowlers on the back foot immediately.
After Sharafu’s dismissal, wicketkeeper-batsman Aryansh Sharma took complete control of the run chase. Playing an innings of remarkable skill and composure, Sharma anchored the middle order, falling agonizingly short of a well-deserved century when he was dismissed for 98 off 98 balls. His innings, which featured ten fours and three sixes, ensured the required run rate never became a concern. He built crucial partnerships, including a significant stand with Muhammad Waseem (26), that broke the back of the chase.
For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with economical figures of 2 for 34 in his 10 overs. However, he received little support from the other end as the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain the UAE’s aggressive batting.
The First Innings: Paudel’s Lone Stand
Earlier, Nepal’s innings was a one-man show from captain Rohit Paudel. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Nepal’s batting lineup faltered, but Paudel stood tall with a sublime 109 from 130 deliveries. His captain’s knock single-handedly guided Nepal to a respectable total of 233 before they were bowled out in 49.5 overs.
Contributions from Aasif Sheikh (35) and Aarif Sheikh (27) provided some support, but it was Paudel’s century that gave his bowlers a target to defend. For the UAE, Junaid Siddique (3/54) and Zahid Ali (3/41) were the chief destroyers, using their skills to pick up wickets at crucial junctures and halt Nepal’s momentum.
Ultimately, despite Paudel’s heroics with the bat, it was Sharma’s near-perfect chase and the UAE’s powerful batting display that sealed a convincing win.
Match Summary
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Result: UAE won by 5 wickets with 39 balls remaining.
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Nepal Innings: 233/9 (49.5 overs)
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Rohit Paudel: 109 (130)
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Aasif Sheikh: 35 (48)
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Zahid Ali: 3/41 (5.5 overs)
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Junaid Siddique: 3/54 (10 overs)
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UAE Innings: 237/5 (43.3 overs)
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Aryansh Sharma: 98 (98)
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Alishan Sharafu: 45 (26)
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Sandeep Lamichhane: 2/34 (10 overs)
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Karan KC: 1/24 (5 overs)
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