UAE reach Asia Cup qualification final after downing rivals Nepal

The UAE reversed a trend as they finally beat Nepal in a decisive qualifying fixture.

The national team are not yet booked in for next year’s Asia Cup. However, they are one step away from it now having defeated familiar rivals in the semi-final of the ACC Premier Cup in Muscat.

The competition carries with it one place at the main event. The national team’s fate will now be decided by a fixture against either Oman or Hong Kong, who meet in the second semi-final on Friday afternoon.

Over the course of a few months last year Nepal beat the UAE to three different major competitions: the Asia Cup, the Under 19 World Cup, and the T20 World Cup.

The national team’s inconsistent form leading up to their latest encounter did little to suggest an upset to that established order was in the offing.

While Nepal breezed through the group stage of the competition with four wins from four, the UAE showed signs of frailties which have been evident for some while now.

They had beaten lower-ranked sides like Bahrain, Kuwait and Cambodia, but were outplayed by hosts Oman.

And yet their will have arrived at the Oman Cricket Academy ground with reasons for optimism. When these sides had last played on this field, three years earlier, the UAE had clinched T20 World Cup qualification.

Their spirits were lifted further when Muhammad Waseem won the toss to give his side the advantage of both chasing, as well as morning assistance for the seamers.

They used it perfectly. Junaid Siddique struck with the first ball of the day, as he had Kushal Bhurtel caught at the wicket by Syed Haider Shah. The UAE scarcely looked back thereafter.

… but silence straight away as Junaid Siddique nicks off Kushal Bhurtel first ball. Game on https://t.co/oytIGPh2ac