Rohit Paudel leads from front as Nepal clinch ODI status after UAE collapse in Kathmandu

On one side of the thin dividing wall between the dressing rooms it was a carnival. On the other, a wake.

Nepal assured themselves of continued one-day international status with another crushing win, as they destroyed UAE in Kathmandu.

They have now taken nine wins from their past 10 games in Cricket World Cup League 2. Two more in their remaining games this week – against PNG on Monday and UAE again on Thursday – will see them power automatically into the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

Their guests, by contrast, will be left to play for their futures at the Qualifier Play-off in Namibia later this month. It will be between UAE, PNG, Canada and Jersey to decide who gets all the perks of ODI status – chiefly, regular cricket in the form of participation in League 2, as well as a significant tranche of funding.

The fact UAE might not yet have reached their nadir does not bear thinking about. This horror show in Kathmandu certainly felt like it. All out for 71. A 177-run loss. It was woeful.

Nepal are the best-supported side beyond the Test-playing elite by quite some margin. Given the high stakes for this fixture, as well as the fact these two teams have long had a fierce rivalry, it was no surprise the Tribhuvan University ground was swamped.

Hundreds were inside the gates when the toss was made an hour before the start. A steady flow thereafter meant the attendance ballooned into the thousands.

Initially, they were silenced by a bright start from the tourists. Starting out with slow left-arm spin from both ends, UAE reduced the hosts to 22 for three.

The crowd was then whipped into a frenzy as Rohan Mustafa, the UAE all-rounder, all but squared up to Rohit Paudel after an appeal against the Nepal captain was rebuffed.