Rain halts Nepal at 122 in first T20I against UAE

Nepal's cricket team faced a challenging start in their first Twenty20 International against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. The home side was limited to 122 for eight in 18.5 overs before persistent rain halted play, leading to a revised target for the UAE under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Nepal, after winning the toss and electing to bat, began with a cautious approach. Openers Arjun Saud and Kushal Bhurtel provided a steady start, but the team struggled to build momentum in the middle overs. Despite contributions from Bhurtel (16), Kushal Malla (17), and Basir Ahmed (14), disciplined bowling from the UAE restricted Nepal's scoring rate. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee found it difficult to rotate the strike early on, and the team's innings faltered with the loss of regular wickets, reaching 105 for seven in 16.3 overs before the rain interruption.

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Nepal were restricted to 122 for eight in 18.5 overs before rain interrupted play in the first Twenty20 International against the United Arab Emirates at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Sunday.

The revised target of 78 runs in 10 overs sets up an intriguing chase for the UAE. For Nepal, the match highlights the need to accelerate scoring under pressure and maintain consistency throughout the innings, especially when playing at home. The performance, though interrupted by weather, provides valuable insights for the team as they look to compete in future T20Is.

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Following the interruption, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method revised UAE’s target to 78 runs in 10 overs.