The United Arab Emirates have posted a 264-run target for Nepal in the first match of the bilateral One-Day International Series played at the TU cricket ground on Monday.

Put to bat first after losing the toss, the visitors notched up 263 runs on the board losing seven wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.

Rohan Mustafa hit the highest 53 runs off 73 balls, smashing seven fours. Openers Muhammad Waseem and Vriitya Aravind made 44 and 40 runs respectively for the team.

Nepal’s Gulsan Jha took two wickets as Sompal Kami and Dipendra Singh Airee grabbed a wicket apiece.

Arjun Saud and Hari Shankar Shah have debuted for Nepal through the first match of the international series. Although Saud had played three One-Day matches for Nepal during a Kenya tour in September, he is playing the first One-Day international match. It's Shah’s first match for the national team.

Nepal’s playing XI for the match includes Captain Rohit Paudel, Arjun Saud, Hari Shankar Shah, Gyanendra Malla, Karan KC, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aasif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Kushal Bhurtel and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi. Aarif Sheikh, Kamal Singh Airee, Bhim Sarki, Sagar Dhakal and Mohammad Aadil Alam are on the bench.

In a pre-match press meet on Sunday, newly-appointed Nepal national cricket team captain Rohit Kumar Paudel said that the three-match bilateral One-Day International Series against the United Arab Emirates will be an ideal preparation for Nepal ahead of the Namibia tour.

Nepal are scheduled to visit Namibia in early December for the Tri-Nation Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 which also features Scotland apart from hosts and Nepal.