Nepal posted a meagre target of 158 runs against Qatar in the ongoing ACC Premier Cup being held at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Thursday.

Winning the toss, Qatar called Nepal to bat first.

Nepali batters failed to stick to the crease for long as Qatari bowlers displayed sensational bowling performance.

Opener Kushal Bhurtel gifted a catch to Khurram Shahzad in 1.2 overs off Gayan Munaweera’s delivery, scoring just two runs.

Bhim Sharki, who came in third, followed Bhurtel as he was caught behind by Imal Liyanage off Munaweera’s delivery in 3.3 overs. Sharki put six runs on the board playing 12 balls.

Aasif Sheikh and skipper Rohit Paudel held the Nepali innings for some time but the Qatari bowlers got a breakthrough in the 13th over. Sheikh, who scored 19 runs, was caught by Muhammad Tanveer off Ikramullah Khan’s delivery in 12.4 overs while Paudel garnered 27 runs for Nepal before being caught behind off Owais Ahmed’s delivery in 15.3 overs. Two overs later, Ahmed caught and bowled Kushal Malla, who scored just three runs.

Qatar’s Amir Farooq was the most successful bowler for the visitors as he claimed four Nepali wickets.

Farooq claimed the wickets of Sompal Kami and Aarif Sheikh in the 21st and 27 overs respectively. Both Nepali batters scored 11 runs. Kami was caught by Ahmed in 20.6 overs and Aarif returned back to the pavilion after being caught by Shahzad off Farooq’s delivery in 26.2 overs. The Qatari bowler in the same over sent back Dipendra Singh Airee packing for 12 runs.

An over later, Gulshan Jha was caught by Munaweera off Ahmed’s delivery in 27.6 overs. Jha scored seven runs.

Farooq claimed his fourth wicket by trapping Lalit Rajbanshi leg before in 40.3 overs.

Sandeep Lamichhane was Nepal’s most successful batter as he scored 42 runs in 58 balls and remained not out.