Nepal succumbed to a 16-run defeat against Ireland in a low-scoring last match of the Oman Quadrangular Twenty20 International Series at the Al Amerat Cricket Grounds in Muscat on Monday.

The defeat meant Nepal won only one of their three matches of the Series played to fine-tune their preparations for the ICC World T20 Global Qualifiers set to take place in Oman from February 18 to 24. Nepal won their opening match against hosts Oman by six wickets before losing to the UAE by 25 runs.

After inviting the Test opponents Ireland to bat first and bowling them to a low total of 127 runs at close, Nepal smelled victory even before taking the field for batting. They could have won the series had they achieved the target in 13.3 overs but they fared poorly in batting and were restricted to 111-9.

The defeat not only poured cold water on their hopes of winning the series but also finished at the bottom of the table on net run rates despite being on level terms with hosts Oman on two points. The UAE and Ireland secured top two positions with four points each but the former secured first position by virtue of net run rate.

Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee exhibited an all-round performance claiming four wickets and contributed the highest 28 runs of the innings. His performance, however, failed to avert the outcome though he was named the player-of-the-match.

Dipendra, who came to bat at number four, hit 28 off 30 that included a boundary and a six before he was dismissed in the 17th over. He was caught by Mark Adair off Barry McCarthy. Openers Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel and lower middle order Kamal Airee were the other batters to contribute in double digit figures for Nepal.

Sheikh hit 22-ball 23 comprising two fours and a six while Bhurtel scored 15 off 11 that included a boundary and a six each. Kamal contributed 10-ball 13 as Nepal lost other wickets cheaply.

Irish bowlers Mark Adair, SImi Singh, Barry McCarthy and Andy McBrine grabbed two wickets each.

Earlier, Ireland also made a poor start to their innings losing wickets at regular intervals. Kamal Airee bowled opener Paul Stirling for two runs in the fourth ball of the innings. Gareth Delany was the next wicket to fall on nine runs with 2-27 on board after he was caught and bowled by Jitendrra Mukhiya in the last delivery of the fourth over.

The other opener and captain Andy Balbirnie was bowled on 19 off 13 by Abinash Bohara with 3-31 on board. Airee then removed the next four batters — Shane Getkate (14 runs),Curtis Campher (20 runs), Simi Singh (1 run) and Lorcan Tucker (15 runs) — with 7-99 on board. Campher played ball-a-run 20 before his dismissal.

Lower middle order George Dockrell, who came to bat at number eight, scored 28 runs, the highest of the innings. He hit two fences and a six before being caught by Kushal Bhurtel off skipper Sandeep Lamichhane, who claimed his 50th T20I wicket. Andy McBrine contributed 11 runs.

In bowling, Dipendra Airee returned with his career best bowling figure of 4-0-21-4. It was the fourth best bowling figure for Nepal in the T20I. Apart from Airee, Abinash Bohara claimed two wickets while Kamal, Jitendrta Mukhiya and captain Lamichhane picked one wicket each.