Kathmandu: Japan has set a 132-run target against Nepal in their second and final group stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifiers on Friday at Turf 1 of the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman.

Sent to bat first, Japan posted 131-8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks largely to a solid half-century from captain and opener Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming. He scored 60 off 46 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes.

Kadowaki-Fleming also shared an 86-run partnership for the second wicket with Esam Rahman, who contributed 31 off 25 deliveries. However, once Rahman was dismissed at 97-2 in the 12.5th over, Japan’s innings took a sharp downturn.

They lost four wickets for just 11 runs, slumping to 109-6. Rahman was caught by Sundeep Jora off medium pacer Sompal Kami, while Kadowaki-Fleming fell to Gulshan Jha, caught by Rohit Paudel.

Benjamin Ito-Devis was third Japanese batter to reach double figures, scoring 17 off 12 balls before being caught by Sandeep Lamichhane off Nandan Yadav on the penultimate delivery of the innings.

Gulshan Jha and Sandeep Lamichhane were the pick of Nepal’s bowlers, taking two wickets apiece. Jha impressed with figures of 2-20 from his four overs including a maiden, while Lamichhane gave away just 24 runs in his full quota.

Both Japan and Nepal had already secured place for Super Six after victories over Kuwait in their opening games. The two teams will not vie in the Super Six round and the outcome of the group stage will be carrried in the next round. The top three teams of the Qualifiers will book place for next years World T20 finals to be co hosted by India and Sri Lanka.