Kushal Bhurtel's 84 helps Nepal level UAE series in second T20I

Kushal Bhurtel's unbeaten 84 and a sharp bowling display led Nepal to an eight-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in the second and final T20I at TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.

The victory helped Nepal bounce back from their defeat in the rain-affected opener and finish the two-match series level at 1-1. It also gave Dipendra Singh Airee his first win as Nepal's T20I captain.

Nepal chose to field first and made an immediate impact. Hemant Dhami trapped UAE captain Muhammad Waseem lbw with the first ball of the match, before Nandan Yadav removed Alishan Sharafu for 1. The UAE slipped further as Sandeep Lamichhane ran through the middle order and finished with 3 for 6 in four overs, including a maiden.

By the eighth over, the UAE were 48 for 6. But Akshdeep Nath and Muhammad Arfan repaired the innings with a 64-run stand for the seventh wicket. Nath stayed unbeaten on 53 off 42 balls, while Arfan made 32 off 36, helping the visitors recover to 128 for 8 from 20 overs.

Nepal's chase was far more assured. Bhurtel and Kushal Malla came out attacking and added 67 for the first wicket in 7.3 overs. Malla made 19 off 17, while Bhurtel brought up his half-century in just 31 balls and kept control of the chase throughout.

Santosh Yadav, making his T20I debut, was stumped for 1, but there was no late wobble. Bhurtel remained unbeaten on 84 off 57 balls with 12 fours and two sixes, and added an unbroken 58-run stand with Airee, who finished on 23 not out from 17 balls. Nepal reached 129 for 2 in 15.5 overs.

For Bhurtel, it was his 14th T20I fifty for Nepal and his first in the format since making 69 against Oman in October. For Nepal, it was a strong response on home soil after the disappointment of the first game.