Poor batting costs Nepal in historic under-lights clash against UAE

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Apr 20, 2026

Nepal’s first ever match under floodlights at the TU International Cricket Stadium ended in a six-wicket defeat to UAE on DLS after a below-par batting effort.

After opting to bat, Nepal managed 122 for 8 in 18.5 overs before rain interrupted play. UAE were set a revised target of 78 in 10 overs, which they chased with seven balls to spare.

Nepal made a steady start but failed to build on it. Kushal Bhurtel (16) and Arjun Saud (13) got starts but couldn’t push the scoring rate. Sundeep Jora fell for a run-a-ball 6, while Kushal Malla struggled for fluency with 17 off 21 deliveries.

On his captaincy debut, Dipendra Singh Airee top-scored with a measured 32 off 35 balls, hitting two boundaries, but Nepal never found momentum.

UAE’s bowlers kept things tight throughout, with legspinner Zuhaib Zubair picking up 3 for 29. Junaid Siddique returned 2 for 18, while Haider Ali and Muhammad Arfan took a wicket each.

In the chase, UAE captain Mohammad Waseem took control early with a rapid 33 off 15 balls, including three sixes and three fours, effectively putting the game beyond Nepal.

Sandeep Lamichhane briefly pulled things back with a superb spell of 3 for 8 in two overs, but lacked support from the other end. Debutant Hemant Dhami conceded 20 runs in his only over as UAE closed out the chase comfortably.

Nepal will face UAE again in the second T20I on Monday.