SATV Kathmandu Oct 14: Nepal held their nerves to clinch a narrow five-run win against Qatar in a tense Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier at Al Amerat, Oman, on Monday night.

After being put in to bat, Nepal posted 147 for nine in their allotted 20 overs, with captain Rohit Paudel leading the charge. Paudel struck 58 off 42 balls, hitting seven fours and a six to anchor the innings after early blows. Opener Kushal Bhurtel fell for six, and Aasif Sheikh followed soon after for 11 as Nepal slipped to 25 for two inside five overs.

Kushal Malla’s brief cameo of eight was cut short by Owais Ahmed, but Paudel found support from Dipendra Singh Airee, who added 26 off 22 balls in a 62-run stand for the fourth wicket. The middle order faltered after Paudel’s dismissal in the 17th over, with Daniel Louis and Mirza Baig taking three wickets each to restrict Nepal below 150. Gulsan Jha’s late 16 off eight balls and Sompal Kami’s quick 14 ensured Nepal reached a competitive total.

In reply, Qatar got off to a strong start, thanks to a 79-run partnership between opener Imal Liyanage and Zubair Ali. Liyanage played aggressively, smashing 56 off 35 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Zubair held the innings together with 52 off 55 deliveries.

The game turned when Sandeep Lamichhane was introduced into the attack. The leg-spinner dismantled Qatar’s middle order, claiming five wickets for just 18 runs. His crucial breakthroughs, including Liyanage, Muhammad Asim and two stumpings by wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, derailed Qatar’s chase.

Despite a promising start, Qatar collapsed from 97 for two to 142 all out in 19.5 overs. Nandan Yadav supported Lamichhane with two wickets, while Airee picked one.