Nepal book India, Pakistan meetings at Asia Cup 2023

Nepal book india, pakistan meetings at asia cup 20230

Nepali supporters rejoice after defeating UAE in the Premier Cup final on Tuesday to qualify for Asia Cup 2023.

Nepal battled a spin bowling group in Kathmandu to win the last Asia Cup 2023 berth on Tuesday’s Premier Cup final reserve day.

Gulshan Jha’s ascension to No. 3 allowed captain Rohit Paudel and coach Monty Desai to first navigate Aayan Khan’s left-arm orthodox, then reply with a variety of strokes.

The 17-year-old scored 67* to chase down 118, a target made difficult by UAE’s powerful spin-bowling squad, sluggish Tribhuvan University conditions, and rain in the capital.

UAE started their batting on the reserve day at 106/9, and Lalit Rajbanshi finished with 4/14 (7.1) with left-arm orthodox. Sandeep Lamichhane, a leg-spinner, took 2/34 (10).

The Emiratis started with 17-year-old spinner Aayan Khan after keeping quicks Zahoor Khan and Junaid Siddique on ice.

After fellow finger spinner Rohan Mustafa removed Kushal Bhurtel for one, Aayan took Aasif Sheikh for eight and forced Rohit Paudel (one) to make it 22/3.

Jha was cautious early before pouncing on overpitched deliveries and hitting numerous sixes down the ground. He struck Karthik Meiyappan for 14 runs in three balls to change momentum.

The flurry relieved the batting side’s strain and calmed the Kathmandu audience. As Bhim Sharki joined Jha in the middle overs, Nepal’s fourth wicket partnership flowed, and UAE tried fast bowler Zahoor as a last resort.

Jha hoisted his bat for fifty, then launched Aayan for a six down the ground to equalize the scores and paddled the following ball behind square on the leg-side for victory. Bhim scored 36* in an undefeated 96-run partnership.

In September’s Asia Cup, Nepal will join India and Pakistan in Group A’s last spot.

Nepal, UAE, and Oman’s top three Premier Cup finishers will play in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in July against ‘A’ Teams of five Full Members.

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