Rampant UAE hand embarrassing defeat to Nepal

 KATHMANDU, JAN 13 -

Nepal slumped to a humiliating 102-run defeat against UAE in their first World Cup Qualifier match in New Zealand on Monday.

Riding on a solid century from Shaiman Anwar, UAE had posted a challenging total of 297 runs losing eight wickets in the Group A game. Anwar smashed eight sixes and eight boundaries for 109 runs from just 96 balls. Anwar with Swapnil Patil (74 from 78 balls) laid a solid 145-run partnership for fourth wicket at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora.

Chasing a steep target of 298 runs, Nepal lost opener Anil Kumar Mandal for a golden duck in the first ball of second over. The run chase got further worse when Nepal lost five wickets inside 18 overs with just 53 runs on board.

Despite a patient half-century from Sharad Bheswakar (54), Nepal could not recover from their batting downfall as UAE bowling continued claiming wickets and finally bowled the Nepali team for 195 runs in 48.1 overs.

Basanta Regmi was leading wicket taker for Nepal with three wickets. Jitendra Mukhiya claimed two while Shakti Gauchan and Sagar Pun registered one each in their name.