After UAE win, Nepal in maiden T20 final

KATHMANDU, APR 03 -Nepal overcame the challenge of United Arab Emirates by six wickets on Tuesday to reach the final of the ACC Twenty20 Cup for the first time in four attempts. Egged on by a vociferous home crowd, Nepal chased down the 134-run target in 19.1 overs at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. After making early exits in the first two editions, Nepal reached the tournament’s semi-finals last year before going down to Afghanistan. Nepal now have a perfect opportunity to avenge that defeat when the two sides meet in Wednesday’s summit clash.

“I am sure we can defeat Afghanistan if we repeat today’s performance,” Nepal coach Pubudu Dassanayake said after the match. “I think our aim of playing at higher level is slowly but surely materialising.” Left hand opener Pradeep Airee completed his second fifty of the tournament, putting on 61 runs with Subash Khakurel for the first wicket to set up a solid platform to exact revenge on UAE, which had thrashed Nepal by six wickets in the group stage in the last tournament. UAE bowler Ahmed Fayyaz snared a couple of wickets that left the hosts requiring 24 runs from the last three overs. But some big hitting from Binod Bhandari relieved the pressure before captain Paras Khadka brought his team home in 19.1 overs to the raucous reception from the crowd. Airee shared man of the match award with off spinner Prithu Baskota who had earlier picked three wickets to restrict UAE to 133/9. “I would like to thank the crowd for their overwhelming support that acted as an extra player,” said Khadka, counting on the home comfort again in the final.

“We have already accomplished the initial target, securing a berth in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. Winning the trophy is the next goal.”

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