Nepal national cricket team's five-match One-Day International winning streak came to an end after they succumbed to a 68-run defeat against hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Triangular Series of ICC World Cup League 2 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Nepal came up with a miserable show with the bat and were bowled out for 139 runs in 31.5 overs in their chase after hosts UAE, sent to bat first, posted 207-8 in the 50-over match.

Middle order batter Kushal Malla was the highest scorer for Nepal contributing 60 runs off 53 that included nine hits to the fences and a six. Apart from him tailender Sandeep Lamichhane (not out 26 runs off 24) and opener Aasif Sheikh (16 runs off 17), were other Nepali batters to touch double digit figures.

The defeat meant sixth place Nepal missed a chance to climb ahead of UAE in the seven-team standings. Nepal have 28 points and are three points behind UAE after playing equal 30 games. Nepal need to win four among the remaining six matches to secure a top five finish which is supposed to retain Nepal ODI status for next four years.

Nepal had defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by four-wickets in their first match of the series on Monday while UAE had faced 131-run defeat against PNG. Nepal had registered five straight wins in the last five ODIs defeating League 2 champions Scotland and Namibia twice each in the Nepal Tri-Series held from February 14 to 21 in Kirtipur and PNG in the last game.

Nepal and PNG will vie in their next match of the series on Friday.

Nepal made a shaky start to their run chase and lost early wickets with 17-3 on board. Opener Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed on five runs while former captain Gyanendra Malla and captain Rohit Paudel departed without opening scores.

Opener Aasif Sheikh was the next batter to be dismissed after Zahoor Khan made him caught by Rohan Mustafa as the score read 54-4.

Coming to bat at number five, Kushal Malla gave some resistance to Nepal but he could not get support from the other end as Nepal lost wickets on quick successions. He slammed nine hits to the fences and a six before Rohan Mustafa caught him in a delivery by Karthik Meiyappan.

Aarif Sheikh was out for a duck while Dipendra Singh Airee (7), Sompal Kami (4), Gulsan Jha (4) and Karan KC (5) all departed cheaply. Tenth number batter Lamichhane hit four fences in his unbeaten 24-ball knock.

UAE all-rounder Rohan Mustafa and Karthik Meiyappan both claimed three wickets each while Junaid SIddique pocketed two wickets. Mustafa conceded 31 runs in his 10-over spell with two maiden overs. Meiyappan gave away 26 runs in his 8.5 overs bowling with a maiden over.

UAE also lost opener Muhammad Waseem for a duck in the very first over after he was bowled by medium pacer Karan KC in the fifth ball of the over. But his opening partner Asif Khan and Rohan Mustafa cracked half centuries with the latter remaining unbeaten.

Opener Khan hit 72 off 99 before leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane made him caught by Karan KC as the score read 139-4. He struck five boundaries and three sixes. Middle order Mustafa scored not out 52 off 76 studded with two boundaries.

Aryan Lakra (28 runs off 36), captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan (22 runs off 40) and Vritya Aravind (18 runs off 38) were other major contributors for UAE.

Leg spinner Lamichhane was the pick of bowling for Nepal claiming three wickets in his 10-over spell conceding 27 runs.

Lamichhane, included in the team against UAE after his travel ban was revoked by the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday. The 22-year-old was accused of raping a minor and released on bail by Patan High Court on January 13.

Kushal Malla, Karan KC and Aarif Sheikh shared a wicket each.