Nepal national women’s cricket team will face the United Arab Emirates in Friday’s semi-finals of the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship after the UAE thrashed Qatar women by 153 runs to top the Group ‘A’.

The UAE needed a victory in their final group match to win the group and they deservedly did so after Esha Oza cracked 115 runs off 67 balls that featured 18 boundaries and three sixes at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was her second career ton and the tournament’s first century in Malaysia.

Oza was bowled by Saachi Dhadwal in the first ball of the 17th over but she had already done her part right off bat, sharing a 174-run partnership with Theertha Satish, who smacked 55 off 42 deliveries that included five fours.

Kavisha Egodage then hit five fours in her 13-ball knock as the UAE posted a huge total of 214-1.

In reply, Qatar, sent to field first after losing the toss, set out for an unlikely chase at the crease but lost wickets at regular intervals as an unstoppable UAE skittled them out for 61-7.

Suraksha Kotte returned the match figures of 11-4. Saachi Dhadwal and Angeline Mare contributed 11 runs each for a helpless Qatar. Shrutiben Rana scored 10 runs.

Nepal had dropped to second, behind Hong Kong, after succumbing to a seven-wicket defeat—their first loss in Group ‘B’ match—against the Group ‘B’ leaders on Tuesday.

The loss against Hong Kong could prove a great setback to Rubina Chhetry’s team, who are struggling with batting inconsistencies on the pitch in Malaysia.

Nepal’s highest total in the tournament was 109, against Hong Kong. Chhetry and Indu Barma have remained more stable with the bat compared to other Nepali batters but Nepal’s highest scorer in the championship, Chhetry, has managed just 87 in four matches, with her highest total (34 not out) coming against Kuwait women.

On the contrary, three UAE top order batters have combined for a total of 353 runs in just three innings. Oza ton took her individual tally to 170 runs on Wednesday.

With only two finalists qualifying for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, Nepal will need to pull off a big upset if they are to secure their place in the October finals.

Hong Kong accumulated eight points to advance as group winners after defeating Kuwait by 30 runs, also on Tuesday.

Hong set up a last four battle against hosts Malaysia women, who secured their spot in the semi-finals as runners-up with a 53-run win over Oman in the Malaysian capital.