Dubai: UAE registered their second consecutive victory in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Twenty20 Cup, defeating hosts Nepal by six wickets at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket ground on Sunday.
Nepal were restricted to 95 for 9 through Ahmed Raza's slow left-arm spin which fetched him three wickets for 12 runs. He was backed by Shadeep Silva and Rohan Mustafa with two wickets each.
Nepal openers put on 19 runs when Shaimon Anwar ran out opener Anil Mandal for five runs. Silva clean bowled the other opener Subash Khakurel for 14 runs before Raza wrecked the middle order taking three wickets including that of their skipper Paras Khadka for two runs.
Chasing a run rate of 4.75 runs, UAE lost their opener Amjad Ali for five runs. Opener Faizan Asif and Shaiman Anwar took the score to 43 before Asif fell for 13 runs. Anwar hit a run a ball 33 runs with four boundaries and one six. At the score of 65, UAE lost the wickets of Anwar and skipper Khurram Khan for 10 runs.
UAE still needed 31 runs in seven overs. Vikrant Shetty (10) and Abdul Rehman (19) ensured the victory with nine balls to spare. In the first match of the tournament UAE beat Kuwait by four wickets. After a rest day on Monday, UAE will meet Hong Kong on Tuesday. Three top teams from this tournament will qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers to be held in UAE during March next year.
Summarised scores: UAE bt Nepal by six wickets. Nepal 95 for 9 in 20 overs (Ahmed Raza 3 for 12, Shadeep Silva 2 for 18, Rohan Mustafa 2 for 13) UAE 99 for 4 in 18. 3 overs (Shaiman Anwar 33).
