KATHMANDU, April 2: Pradeep Airee smashed a brilliant half century as Nepal outplayed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by six wickets to enter final of ACC T20 Cup here at TU cricket ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday.
Sent in to field first, Nepal bundled out the UAE for 133/9 in 20 overs. In reply, Nepal reached the target of 134 losing four wickets with five balls still remaining. Airee made 58 off 57 balls including five fours and two sixes. [break]
Subash Khakurel (22) and Gyanendra Malla (20) were the other major contributors to Nepal´s run chase that never looked troubled, with Khakurel and Airee sharing a solid 61-run opening stand.
Binod Bhandari, who hit two massive sixes, and skipper Paras Khadka remained not out on 16 and 12 respectively. Basanta Regmi was duck out. UAE bowlers Ahmed Raza and Fayyaz Ahmed took two wickets each.
Earlier, Prithu Baskota took three wickets, while Basanta Regmi and Shakti Gauchan grabbed two wickets apiece to restrict the UAE to a mediocre total.
S Patil top scored with 37 for the visiting team, whereas Mohammad Azam remained not out on 24. Likewise, Abdul Shakoor (18), Rohan Mustafa (16) and Amjad Javed (12) were the other major contributors.
Nepal conceded seven runs as extras. In the first semifinal match played earlier in the day at the same venue, Afghanistan defeated Hong Kong by seven wickets. Nepal will play Afghanistan in the final on Wednesday.
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