Kathmandu: Nepal’s disappointing run in the UAE Tri-Series came to an end on Wednesday as they suffered a four-wicket defeat against hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their fourth and final match of the series under the ICC World Cup League 2 (WCL-2) at the ICC Academy, Dubai.

Sent in to bat first, Nepal once again struggled with bat early on and posted 239-9in 50 overs. Chasing the target, UAE scored 243-6 in 49.1 overs, thanks to a commanding 147-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

This defeat meant Nepal concluded the Tri-Series without a single win, having earlier lost to the United States by 107 runs and four wickets, and to the UAE by seven wickets.

Turning Point: The Fourth-Wicket Stand
The hosts were in early trouble at 28-2, losing openers Aryansh Sharma (0) and Alishan Sharafu (18), followed by Shohib Khan (29), who was trapped leg-before by Lalit Rajbanshi.

However, Muhammad Shahdad and Muhammad Waseem steadied the innings with a match-winning 147-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Waseem played a fluent knock of 76 off 73 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes, before being bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane in the 44th over.

Shahdad fell just short of a maiden century, dismissed for 96 after being caught by Aasif Sheikh off Karan KC. His patient 123-ball innings included six fours and three sixes.

For Nepal, Karan KC was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3-58 from his 10 overs. Rajbanshi, Lamichhane, and Nandan Yadav took one wicket each.

Nepal’s Innings: Starts Without Substance
Nepal’s innings began on a shaky note as opener Kushal Bhurtel fell for just two runs. Aasif Sheikh (34 off 48) and Bhim Sharki (48 off 68) rebuilt with a 74-run stand for the second wicket, but wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter.

Captain Rohit Paudel was dismissed cheaply for two, leaving Nepal at 87-3. Sharki, the top scorer, was later caught by Alishan Sharafu off Dhruv Parashar, halting Nepal’s momentum.

Kushal Malla contributed 45 off 51 balls (1 four, 3 sixes), while Aarif Sheikh (30 off 54), Dipendra Singh Airee (37 off 43), and Sandeep Lamichhane (not out 15 off 10) provided useful contributions in the lower order.

For the UAE, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, and Muhammad Jawadullah shared the wickets evenly, taking two apiece to restrict Nepal below 240.

League Standings
In the ongoing three-year ICC World Cup League 2 cycle featuring eight teams, Nepal remain in seventh place with 12 points from 20 matches, including five wins, 13 defeats, and two no-results.

The United States, having won all four matches in this series, sit comfortably atop the standings with 36 points from 24 games, followed by Scotland with 30 points from as many matches. The UAE, despite their latest win, remain at the bottom with 10 points from 20 games.