UAE advance to Asia Cup qualifier final against Nepal after more DLS drama

Forty-four days after they had their path to the World Cup complicated by an emotional defeat via Duckworth Lewis Stern in Kathmandu, UAE were able to benefit from cricket’s rain-revision method after another extraordinary day in Nepal’s capital.

The national team can look forward to trying to exact revenge for last month’s Cricket World Cup League 2 loss when they face Nepal in Monday’s ACC Premier Cup final, after they beat Oman by two runs on DLS in the semi-final.

The winners of Monday’s game will advance to play India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup later this year.

The fact UAE are still in with a shot is remarkable given that Oman were ahead in their chase until the very last ball bowled before an electrical storm forced the sides from the field in Mulpani.

Rain had been rolling around the valley all afternoon, but the Oman-UAE fixture had somehow avoided any interruptions until 93 overs had been bowled. At that stage, Oman’s score read 190-6, with the DLS target 193.

Just moments earlier Oman had had a place in the final in their grasp. First, Basil Hameed, returning to the side for the first time after months out of favour, had Ayaan Khan expertly caught on the boundary rope by Rohan Mustafa.

Still, Oman held a slender advantage. Then, on the final ball before the deluge arrived, Sandeep Goud was brilliantly caught at the wicket by Vriitya Aravind. Suddenly, the advantage was theirs.

The thunder is actually less impressive when it’s drowned out by the motor on the super sopper … pic.twitter.com/6FnHgnCrQy

And soon, after the storm meant no further play was possible, the place in the final was theirs, too.

Because the two Gulf neighbours were playing against each other, it meant the Mulpani Cricket Ground, which is