KATHMANDU, Jan 31: Nepal has lost to UAE by 21 runs in the first match of the T20 series underway at the ICC Academy on Thursday.
Nepal failed to reach the target set by UAE after it trailed behind with paltry 132 runs in the allotted 20 overs, losing seven wickets.
Except skipper Paras Khadka, S Jora and Sompal Kami, none other Nepali batsmen scored double-digit runs.
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S Jora scored 53 runs including three fours and one six in 46 balls, and remained not-out, Sompal Kami 27 and Paras Khadka scored 25 runs respectively.
Zahoor Khan, Sultan Ahmed and Mohammad Naveed took two wickets each while Amir Hayat claimed one wicket, restricting Nepal to paltry 132 runs.
Earlier, Nepal had received a 154-run target from UAE at the match under the T20 Series underway at ICC Academy on Thursday.
Sent in to bat first after losing the toss, home team UAE scored 153 runs losing six wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
UAE made a respectable score thanks to wonderful performance by the middle order batsmen. UAE made 61-partnership runs for four wicket after collecting 43 runs in 6.3 overs losing three wickets.
Shaiman Anwar top-scored with 59 runs including five fours and two sixes off 38 balls, Muhammad Usman made 30 runs including one four and two sixes off 24 balls while CP Rizwan contributed 22 runs including four fours off 19 balls.
In reply, Nepal’s Basanta Regmi and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets of UAE each.
Earlier, Nepal had clinched 2-1 wins against UAE in matches held under One Day International (ODI) series recently. With the wins, Nepal has been playing T20 series against UAE.
