Kathmandu: Opener Aasif Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee struck impressive half-centuries as Nepal set a formidable target of 212 runs against Samoa in their final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia-Pacific Qualifiers as the Rhinos aim to wrap up their campaign with a perfect record, maintaining an unbeaten streak throughout the tournament.

Having already secured qualification for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Nepal posted a commanding total of 211 for 4 after being sent in to bat at Ministry Turf 1, Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Friday.

The match marked a first for Nepal in the tournament — two players registering half-centuries in the same innings.

Aasif Sheikh anchored the innings with a composed 69 off 41 balls, featuring seven fours and four sixes, before falling as the second wicket in the 13th over. Adding his career best T20I figure, Aasif shared a solid 63-run opening stand with Kushal Bhurtel, who added 17 off 15 balls.

Coming to bat at number three, Dipendra Singh Airee followed with a powerful 53 off 33 deliveries, laced with two fours and four sixes, before being caught by Samson Sola off Daniel Burgess.

Lower down the order, Lokesh Bam delivered a fiery cameo, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 12 balls, including two boundaries and four sixes. Skipper Rohit Paudel chipped in with a quickfire 21 off 12 deliveries at number five.

Samoa’s bowling attack saw Daniel Burgess, Saumani Tiai, Darius Visser, and Noah Mead each claim a wicket.

With Nepal, Oman, and the UAE already having clinched spots in the 2026 T20 World Cup as the top three sides from the nine-team qualifier, Nepal remains the only unbeaten team. A successful defense of their total would see them end their campaign on a flawless winning note.