Nepal’s World Cup League 2 Hopes Dented as UAE Clinches Thrilling Four-Wicket Win in Dubai

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Nepal struggled to build substantial partnerships, finishing at 239 for 9 in their 50 overs. Bhim Sarki top-scored with 48, supported by Kushal Malla’s 45 and Dipendra Singh Airee’s 37, but a failure to convert starts into big scores limited Nepal's momentum. The UAE chase was anchored by a superb 147-run partnership between Mohammad Shahdad (96 off 123 balls) and Muhammad Wasim (76 off 73 balls), which effectively took the game away from Nepal. Shahdad, in only his third ODI, narrowly missed a maiden century, falling with UAE within sight of victory. A late cameo from Sohaib Khan (29) ensured the hosts crossed the line with an over to spare, finishing at 240 for 6. Nepal’s bowlers, led by Karan KC’s three wickets, fought hard, but could not contain the UAE middle order when it mattered most. This defeat marked Nepal’s fourth consecutive loss in the series, severely denting their hopes of finishing among the top three—a prerequisite to retain ODI status for the next four years. With just 12 points from 20 matches, Nepal remain seventh, while UAE, with 10 points from 20 matches, stay at the bottom of the league. The USA, meanwhile, tops the table with 36 points from 24 matches. The match had extra significance as both teams were staring at potential elimination from the qualifying race. UAE, coming off a humiliating 49 all out against the USA, showed character to bounce back, while Nepal’s recent struggles with both bat and ball continued. Post-match, UAE’s hero, Mohammad Shahdad, expressed his desire to cement his place in the national side after his match-winning knock. For Nepal, the focus now shifts to introspection and regrouping as their World Cup qualification campaign hangs by a thread. This result leaves cricket fans in both nations reflecting on what might have been, and underlines the intense competition in World Cup League 2 as the race for ODI status heats up.