Nepal edged Papua New Guinea by four wickets in their opening match of the United Arab Emirates Triangular Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 to register their record fifth One-Day International victory in a row on Monday.

Inviting PNG to bat first, Nepal restricted them to 203-9 in the allotted 50 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing the target, Nepal notched up 207-6 in 45.2 overs with Kushal Malla finishing it in style with a boundary.

It was the first occasion that Nepal grabbed fifth victory in a row in the ODI adding to their clean sweep of four matches in the last Triangular series that involved League 2 champions Scotland and Namibia.

The victory is a big boost to Nepal’s ambition of securing top-five finish in the seven-team League 2 standings that is supposed to guarantee ODI status for next four years due to end in July.

Nepal are currently in sixth position with 28 points; four victories in the remaining seven matches in the League 2 cycle will ensure them a top five finish. Scotland are already crowned League 2 champions. PNG are languishing at the bottom of the table with five points from 29 games.

Kushal Bhurtel, who hit his career’s fourth ODI half-century, and Aasif Sheikh created the base for Nepal’s victory, sharing a 76-run partnership for the first wicket. Bhurtel contributed 56 runs off 69 that included five hits to the fences before he was dismissed as the third wicket. Sese Bau caught him in Assad Vala’s delivery in the 22nd over.

Wicketkeeper batter Sheikh scored 39-ball 44, studded with five hits to the boundaries, before he got run out in the 15th over as first wicket. His sibling Aarif contributed 33 runs off 62 balls.

Dipendra Singh Airee, who made 22 runs off 43, captain Rohit Paudel 20 runs off 21 and Kushal Malla not-out 12 runs off 14 were other major contributors for Nepal.

PNG’s all-rounder Assad Vala was the pick of the bowling claiming three wickets in his 10-over spell. He conceded 37 runs. Norman Vanua and Sese Bau collected one wicket each.

Sent into bat first, PNG faced an early blow after opener Tony Ura was bowled on two runs by medium pacer Sompal Kami in the fifth over. His opening partner Kiplin Doriga contributed 29 runs off 59 before Gulshan Jha made him caught by Karan KC.

Medium pacer Jha also bowled out the following batter Sese Bau on 31 runs off 55 as the score read 88-3. Captain Assad Vala coming to bat at number four contributed 36 runs, the joint-highest of the innings, in his 53-ball knock. Malla made him caught by Bhurtel as the sixth wicket.

Lower middle-order batter Chad Soper contributed an unbeaten 36 off 53 studded with two hits to fences. Norman Vanua contributed 15-ball 25 while Hiri Hiri scored run-a-ball 10.

Jha was the most successful bowler for Nepal claiming three wickets in his nine-over bowling. He gave away 28 runs. Kushal Malla took two wickets in his eight-over bowling conceding 43 runs.

ODI debutant Pratish GC, Sompal Kami and Karan KC shared one wicket each.

Nepal will vie against hosts UAE in their second match of the series on Thursday.