Nepal clinched a thrilling one-run win against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Super Six stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier 2025 at Al Amerat Cricket Ground on Sunday.
With just three runs needed off as many balls, the UAE lost three wickets off consecutive deliveries, which included two run outs, to hand Nepal a one-run victory.
Dhruv Parashar’s six off the third ball of the final over, bowled by off-spinner Dipendra Singh Airee, had brought the equation down to run-a-ball with three deliveries left. Parashar was caught by Sundeep Jora at long-on next ball, leaving the UAE with three runs to get off two deliveries. Haider Ali was run out at the striker’s end off the fifth ball while trying to complete the second run. There was more drama in store as the first run also wasn’t counted because Haider had dropped the bat at the non-striker’s end while turning for the second.
With three needed off the final delivery, Junaid Siddique hit the ball to long-on and failed to make his ground while trying to complete the second, which would have tied the contest.
Earlier, after electing to bat, Nepal rode on wicketkeeper-batter Aasif Sheikh’s fifty to post a middling 140 for six in 20 overs. The UAE’s reply was guided by Alishan Sharafu, who scored a 40-ball 58 but fell in the 14th over of the chase.
Airee, who held his nerve with the ball in the final over, picked three wickets for just 22 runs in four overs, and was named the Player-of-the-Match.
The win gave Nepal a positive start to its Super Six campaign, where each of the six teams in contention will play four matches. The top three sides will make it to the 20-team T20 World Cup next year, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Nepal is so far the only unbeaten team in the Qualifier event. It won both its group-stage matches, against Japan and Kuwait.
Published on Oct 12, 2025
