Nepal Edges UAE by 1 Run in Thrilling T20 World Cup Qualifier Super Six Clash

Nepal secured a dramatic 1-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a heart-stopping Super Six match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier 2025 at Oman Cricket Academy Ground. Aasif Sheikh’s vital half-century and Dipendra Singh Airee’s exceptional bowling spearheaded Nepal to 4 points in the Super Six stage, keeping their 2026 T20 World Cup hopes alive.

Nepal’s Competitive Batting Effort

Winning the toss and opting to bat, Nepal posted 140/6 in 20 overs. Openers Kushal Bhurtel (28 off 26, 2×4, 2×6) and Aasif Sheikh built a solid 56-run opening stand in the powerplay, scoring 45 runs. Bhurtel fell lbw to Harshit Kaushik, while captain Rohit Paudel (20) added 39 runs with Sheikh before being caught off Mohammad Rohid. Sheikh’s resilient 51 off 47 (4×4, 1×6) anchored the innings, but he was bowled by Dhruv Parashar in the 16th over. Gulsan Jha’s quickfire 14 off 5 (2×4, 1×6), alongside contributions from Kushal Malla (10), Sandeep Jora (4*), and Sompal Kami (6*), pushed Nepal to 140. UAE’s bowlers—Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Rohid, Zahid Ali, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, and Dhruv Parashar—each took a wicket.

UAE’s Chase Falls Agonizingly Short

Chasing 141, UAE finished at 139/9 in 20 overs, falling just 1 run short. Nepal’s bowlers struck early, with Lalit Rajbanshi delivering a maiden first over and Sompal Kami removing Muhammad Waseem (1) in the second, caught by Bhurtel. UAE struggled to 14/1 after four overs, but Alishan Sharafu’s aggressive 58 off 40 (3×4, 5×6) and a 81-run stand with Jonathan Figy (19) kept them in contention. Airee turned the game, dismissing Figy and bowling Sharafu in the 14th over. Gulsan Jha removed Harshit Kaushik (2), and Airee ran out Rahul Chopra (7) while Sandeep Lamichhane clean-bowled Basil Hamid (0) in the 16th over, leaving UAE at 96/6.

Needing 45 off the last 26 balls, UAE fought back, scoring 15 in the 17th over and 12 in the 19th. The final over, bowled by Airee, proved decisive. With 10 runs needed, Dhruv Parashar smashed a six off the third ball, reducing the equation to 3 runs off 3 balls. However, Parashar (32) was caught by Jora off the fourth ball, Haider Ali was run out by Jora on the fifth, and Junaid Siddique was run out on the final ball, sealing Nepal’s victory. Airee’s 3/22, alongside one wicket each from Lamichhane, Jha, and Kami, and three run-outs, clinched the game.

Key Moments

• Aasif’s Crucial Knock: His 51 provided Nepal a defendable total.

• Airee’s Game-Changing Spell: His 3 wickets and a run-out in the clutch moments turned the tide.

• Final Over Drama: Nepal’s composure under pressure secured a thrilling 1-run win.

Super Six Standings and Next Steps

Nepal and Oman lead the Super Six with 4 points each, while UAE and Qatar have 2 points. In the day’s earlier match, Oman defeated Qatar by 34 runs, posting 172/6 before bowling out Qatar for 138/9. Nepal face Qatar tomorrow, October 13, in a crucial encounter. The top three teams from the Super Six will qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and Nepal’s resilience keeps them firmly in the race.