Kathmandu: An unbeaten half-century from opener Kushal Bhurtel steered Nepal to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the two-match bilateral Twenty20 International series finished 1–1 at the TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur on Tuesday.

Player-of-the -match Bhurtel produced a composed 84 off 57 balls to guide the hosts to 129-2 in 15.5 overs, comfortably chasing UAE’s total of 128-8 after the visitors were put in to bat.

In the rain-affected opening match on Monday, UAE had edged Nepal by six wickets at the same venue. Chasing a revised target of 78 in 10 overs under the DLS method, UAE reached 78-4 in 8.5 overs after Nepal had posted 122-8 in 18.5 overs before rain interrupted play.

Bhurtel’s innings featured 12 boundaries and two sixes. He laid a solid foundation with a 67-run opening stand alongside Kushal Malla, who scored 19 off 17 balls, including a boundary and two sixes.

The opener then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 58-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who added 23 off 17 balls, striking three boundaries. Debutant Santosh Yadav, batting at one-down, was dismissed for one.

Earlier, Akshdeep Nath struck an unbeaten half-century for UAE to help the visitors post a competitive total. Making his T20I debut on Monday, he followed up with a fluent 53 off 42 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes.

Opener Adeeb Usmani (30 off 22) and Muhammad Arfan (32 off 36) were the other notable contributors for UAE, both falling to leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who was the standout bowler for Nepal.

Sandeep returned impressive figures of 3-6 from his four overs, including a maiden, while Hemant Dhami supported well with 2-20 in his four-over spell.

UAE will next feature in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series involving Nepal and Oman, scheduled at the same venue from April 25 to May 5.