Kirtipur: Three wickets from Muhammad Juhaib Zubair helped United Arab Emirates (UAE) beat Nepal by six wickets in the rain-affected first T20I at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Electing to bat first, the team amassed 122/8 in 18.5 overs, but with a warning from captain Deependra Singh Airey, play was called off by rain.
Irie top-scored for Nepal with an unbeaten 32 off 35 balls with 2 boundaries, while Kushal Malla (17) and Kushal Purdel (16) contributed over 15 runs.
Juhaib led the UAE’s bowling with three wickets for just 29 runs in his four overs, earning him the man of the match award.
His efforts were supported by experienced fast bowler Junaid Siddiqui, who claimed two wickets, while Hyder Ali and Muhammad Arfan chipped in with a scalp each.
UAE were set a target of 78 runs in 10 overs after a long rain delay, which they chased down with 4 wickets and 7 balls to spare thanks to an early blitz from captain Muhammad Wasim.
A 15-ball 33, which included 3 sixes and several fours, led to his opening partner Adeep Usmani taking 2 off 7 balls until he fell to Sandeep Lamichane in the fourth over.
Lamichane removed Harpeeth Singh (two) in his next over to reduce the total to 44/3 in 5.4 overs.
But a 27-run partnership between Alishan Sharafu (18) and Akshdeep Nath anchored the UAE’s run chase and kept them within touching distance until they were dismissed by Malla in the third ball of the ninth over.
Nath, meanwhile, hit a six off the next ball to seal a comprehensive win for the UAE in the series opener. He remained unbeaten on 17 off 8 balls with two sixes.
Malla scalped as Lamichane took three wickets for eight runs in his two overs.