Zuhaib's three wickets and Waseem's blitz hand UAE rain-hit win over Nepal

The United Arab Emirates took a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series after beating Nepal by six wickets in a rain-affected opener at TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Monday.

Nepal chose to bat first and reached 122 for 8 in 18.5 overs before rain interrupted the innings. The stoppage left the UAE with a revised target of 78 from 10 overs, and the visitors chased it down in 8.5 overs.

The match also marked a notable night for new faces. Nepal handed a T20I debut to Hemant Dhami, while the UAE introduced four debutants in Adeeb Usmani, Akshdeep Nath, Harpreet Singh and Khuzaima Tanveer. The visitors' newcomers made an immediate impact, with Akshdeep finishing unbeaten on 17 in the chase.

Muhammad Zuhaib set up the result with the ball. He finished with 3 wickets and broke through Nepal's middle order after the hosts had made a brisk start. Junaid Siddique took 2 wickets, while Haider Ali and Muhammad Arfan claimed one each.

Nepal lost wickets at regular intervals after reaching 62 for 3 at the halfway mark. Dipendra Singh Airee held the innings together with an unbeaten 32 off 35 balls, while Kushal Malla made 17 and Kushal Bhurtel hit 16 off 9. Nepal crossed 100 in the 17th over, but the late slide left them short of a stronger total before the rain arrived.

The revised chase was then dominated by Waseem at the top. The UAE captain hammered 33 off just 15 balls, with three fours and three sixes, and ensured the asking rate never became a problem. Alishan Sharafu added 18, while Akshdeep Nath stayed unbeaten on 17 to complete the chase.

Nepal did fight briefly with the ball. Sandeep Lamichhane took 3 for 8 in 2 overs and briefly checked the chase by removing Waseem, Adeeb Usmani and Harpreet Singh. Kushal Malla also picked up a wicket, but the target was too small once the UAE powerplay had done the damage.

The defeat was a frustrating start for Nepal in a much-anticipated home series, while the UAE made the stronger opening statement in the first international match of the series in Kirtipur.