Karan KC's four-for and Airee's fifty power Nepal to thrilling win over UAE

Nepal pulled off a sensational 37-run win over the United Arab Emirates in a low-scoring ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 contest at TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Saturday.

Defending 201, Nepal bowled the UAE out for 163 in 48.2 overs to begin the home tri-series with a valuable victory. Karan KC led the bowling effort with 4 for 19 in 9.2 overs, including two maidens, while Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets each.

The win lifted Nepal to 14 points from 21 matches, though they remained second from bottom in the eight-team table. The UAE stayed at the foot with 10 points.

Chasing 201, the UAE never fully settled despite several batters getting starts. Harpreet Singh top-scored with 39 off 52 balls, captain Muhammad Waseem made 34, and Akshdeep Nath added 30. Aryansh Sharma and Nilansh Keswani chipped in with 18 each, but Nepal kept striking often enough to stay ahead.

Karan made the decisive impact with the ball, while Sandeep returned 2 for 25 in 10 overs with two maidens. Sompal gave Nepal key breakthroughs despite going for 50 in 9 overs, and Dipendra Singh Airee also chipped in with a wicket.

Earlier, Dipendra's 75 had rescued Nepal after another difficult start with the bat. Nepal were bowled out for 200 in 48.2 overs after slipping to 49 for 4. Dipendra held the innings together with 75 off 90 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, and was the last batter dismissed.

The innings might have ended much earlier without him. Aasif Sheikh fell for 7, Bhim Sharki made 10, Kushal Bhurtel scored 24, and captain Rohit Paudel was out for 2 as Nepal lost four wickets cheaply. Basir Ahamad then helped rebuild with 20 in a 41-run fifth-wicket stand with Dipendra.

Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami made 15 each, while Karan added a useful 22 off 37 balls. His 42-run partnership with Dipendra for the eighth wicket gave Nepal crucial lower-order resistance that proved decisive in the final result.

For the UAE, Junaid Siddique and Ajay Kumar took 3 wickets each, while Khuzaima Tanveer picked up 2. But Nepal's bowlers later ensured that even a modest target became enough on a surface that continued to ask questions.

It was the kind of result Nepal badly needed at the start of an important home League 2 window, and one built on Dipendra's composure, Karan's match-winning spell, and a collective effort in the field.