NEP VS UAE PLAY OFF

That is all we have from this low-scoring affair as Nepal will lock horns against Ireland in the seventh-place play-off final. UAE on the other hand will clash against USA to see which team takes ninth place. The action in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers continues on Monday 3rd July and the first ball will be bowled at 12.30 pm IST (7 am GMT) but as you know our build-up will begin well in advance. Do join us for it and until then, goodbye and cheers!

Rohit Paudel, the captain of Nepal says that they bowled well in the second inning but the execution of the top order was not good. Adds that the partnership between Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulsan Jha first and then Dipendra and Sandeep Lamichhane helped them get over the line. Admits that they have been struggling with short balls and they need to prepare for that when they go back home. Explains that they need to work on it so they know when to leave and when to pull. Mentions that Sandeep Lamichhane is doing a great job with both the ball and the bat and with the way medium pacers started, Sandeep was able to take over from there. Ends by saying that it is a great opportunity to play against a Test-playing nation and they will be playing for pride so to win against them, they will try their best.

Vriitya Aravind, the skipper of UAE says that it was a great game of cricket. Adds that it is the bowlers who made a game of it so the credit goes to them. Claims that they were always in the game and bowled well but Nepal bat deep and had an extra batter as well. Goes on to say that the Nepalese have been in great form at home and did really well having come here to play. Agrees that it is an El Classico and the games between the two sides are always played with high intensity. Mentions that Junaid Siddique was really good and someone to look for in the future. Ends by saying that they have a young team but the way the youngsters put their hands up is a real positive so hopefully we can put in a good performance in the final game.

Dipendra Singh Airee is the Player of the Match for his remarkable inning of 79 runs in 85 balls along with one wicket. He says that he has played an innings like this in the past back at home and this is similar so it is one of his best knocks. Mentions that it is a great opportunity to play against a Test-playing nation in their next game when they take on Ireland and he will look to play in a similar fashion. Mentions that he and Sandeep Lamichhane discussed that they would get 10-20 runs under their belt and then carry the innings forward. Says that the partnership worked well and they managed to take it over the line. Closes by saying that coach Monty Desai brings a lot to the team and allows them the freedom to play their game.

Time for the presentations...

Nepal were off the blocks early with the ball as they claimed a wicket on the second ball in the first inning but a 64-run partnership between Aryansh Sharma and Vriitya Aravind helped UAE rebuild. Both of them got off to starts along with Rohan Mustafa and Basil Hameed but could not capitalize on it and in the end they were bowled out for an under-par total. Sandeep Lamichhane bowled his best spell of the tournament conceding just 23 runs in his 10 overs and taking three wickets. Karan KC also has three wickets under his belt with Pratish GC, Gulsan Jha, and Dipendra Singh Airee chipping in with one each. Nepal found themselves in trouble despite a good bowling effort and needed a hero to bail them out.

Muhammad Jawadullah struck on his very first delivery in the second over to peg Nepal onto the backfoot right away. Junaid Siddique was the one who built all the pressure though as he bowled 7 overs on the trot and conceded just 11 runs with 3 maidens. He was rewarded with the wicket of the experience Gyanendra Malla and Jawadullah claimed two quick wickets when he was brought back in the attack. Sanchit Sharma took another and had Nepal reeling on 55 for the loss of 5 wickets. When Ali Naseer claimed the wicket of a set Kushal Bhurtel, it looked all downhill for Nepal. The spinners were not used for a chunk of the game but Rohan Mustafa managed to claim a wicket when he was brought into the attack. Things did not go as per plan thereafter and UAE failed to take any more wickets to suffer yet another setback in their quest for a win in this tournament.

Arjun Saud was brought into the side for this game and had an outing to forget as he was dismissed early. Kushal Bhurtel and Gyanendra Malla tried to steady the ship but the latter was dismissed looking to be aggressive. Rohit Paudel, Bhim Sharki, and Aarif Sheikh were all dismissed in quick succession which put Nepal in muddy waters. Bhurtel looked to hold up one end but lost his wicket having scored 35 runs in 59 balls. Then came the fight back from Dipendra as he stitched together a 43-run partnership in 46 deliveries with Gulsan Jha to take Nepal across the 100-run mark. Gulsan could not stick around further but Sandeep Lamichhane played second fiddle to Dipendra who looked like a man on a mission. He reached his half-century in quick time and he did not look like stopping any time soon. He scored 79 runs in balls and added a 79-run unbeaten partnership with Lamichhane who made 23 runs himself.

A stunning inning from Dipendra Singh Airee has helped Nepal register an outstanding win! What a low-scoring thriller we have witnessed here! Nepal have pulled off a heist and from a losing position, they have registered a three-wicket win with 40 balls to spare over a hapless UAE side. Nepal at the halfway stage looked to be in the ascendancy but the UAE bowlers were right on the money to get their side right on top. They looked to be heading towards their maiden win but Dipendra had other ideas as he got Nepal their second win of the campaign.

FOUR BYES! NEPAL WIN IN EXTRAORDINARY FASHION! Low full toss outside off. Dipendra Singh Airee swings hard and misses and so does the keeper Aryansh Sharma as the ball runs down to the fence four byes and Nepal wins this game by 3 wickets. Brilliant effort by Dipendra Singh Airee who single-handedly has taken his side over the line. Nepal will now face off against Ireland in the 7th-place playoff final.

Length ball outside off. Sandeep Lamichhane makes room and knocks it to deep backward point for one. Just one needed for the win.

Back of a length delivery, angled on the middle and off. Dipendra Singh Airee blocks it back at Junaid Siddique.

Goes very full on off. Dipendra Singh Airee knocks it to short mid-wicket.

Length ball on off. Airee blocks on the front foot.

Junaid Siddique bowls the wide yorker outside off. Dipendra Singh Airee plays and misses.

Good length ball on off. Dipendra Singh Airee defends it to extra cover fielder.

Hard length delivery angling down the leg. Airee pulls it in the gap between the fine leg and the deep square leg fielder for a couple.