Bittersweet day for UAE as seniors bounce back but Nepal take U19 World Cup place

UAE cricket enjoyed a bittersweet day against Nepal in two different World Cup qualifying events in two different emirates, 60 kilometres apart.

In Dubai, the senior men’s side got their Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign back on track with a comprehensive 68-run win against their familiar rivals.

Just as CP Rizwan’s side were putting the finishing touches to that success at Dubai International Stadium, down the E311, the country’s leading age-group cricketers were attempting to do similar.

They missed out on a third successive trip to an Under-19 World Cup, though, after an extraordinary finish to their encounter with Nepal at Ajman Eden Gardens.

The winners of the final game of the Asia Qualifier will advance to the main event in Sri Lanka next year. It was Nepal who punched their ticket, after Dipesh Kandel took a hat trick to seal a seven-run win.

“I am out of words right now – the feeling was absolutely brilliant,” Dev Khanal, the Nepal captain, said. “The way the boys showed character in such a big game was something to cherish.

“UAE were in the game from ball one, they dominated us, so to win a game like that by seven runs was something brilliant.

“Back at home, everyone must be so, so happy now. It is an amazing feeling. It was a fantastic feeling, and thanks to our fans for keeping believing in us.”

Missing out on qualification felt harsh on UAE, who had a number of players who were involved when the national team won the plate title at the U19 World Cup in the Caribbean last year.

On the way to that trophy, UAE beat two full member nations – West Indies and Ireland. Yet, while those two sides are guaranteed admission to the event in Sri Lanka next year, UAE had to qualify all over again.

They and Nepal were