KATHMANDU: Nepal has set a 314-run target for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final of the ACC Premier Cup currently being held in Malaysia.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Nepal posted 313 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
Opener Aasif Sheikh anchored the innings with a century, scoring 102 runs off 106 balls. His innings included 4 sixes and 8 fours, marking his second century in One Day International (ODI) cricket. He shared a 97-run partnership with Arjun Kumal, who contributed 43 runs before getting dismissed.
Gulshan Jha also delivered a strong performance, scoring 52 runs off 38 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours. This half-century was his sixth in ODI cricket. During the match, the 20-year-old also surpassed the 1,000-run mark in ODI cricket. Other notable contributions included 40 runs from former captain Rohit Paudel and 18 runs from Dipendra Singh Airee. Basir Ahmed remained unbeaten on 15 runs. For the UAE, bowler Ibrar Ahmed took 4 wickets.
The winner of the tournament will qualify for the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Bangladesh from June 18 to July 4, 2027. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have already qualified for the six-team event. Nepal previously participated in the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup.
