Nepal have qualified for the Asia Cup 2023 defeating the United Arab Emirates by seven wickets in the final of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup held in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Gulsan Jha cracked a half-century as Nepal scored 118 runs target set by the visitors in 30.3 overs losing three wickets in the match at the TU cricket ground.

Nepal will join India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup final scheduled for September in Pakistan. The six-team Asia Cup comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the other group.

Jha scored unbeaten 67 runs off 84 balls as he helped Nepal to seal the victory after the hosts lost three quick wickets.

Earlier today, Nepal’s Lalit Rajbanshi took the wicket of Junaid Siddique as the match resumed on the reserve day after it was called off due to the downpour on Monday.

Rajbanshi completed a four-wicket haul, giving away 14 runs in his 7.1-over spell that included two maiden overs.

The UAE were struggling at 106-9 after 27.3 overs before heavy rains forced the match referee to call off the game yesterday.

Sent in to bat first when there was a drizzle, the UAE struggled with the bat and lost wickets at regular intervals.

Nepali bowlers kept the UAE under pressure from the beginning, taking wickets at regular intervals. Leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and medium pacer Karan KC took two wickets each.

UAE’s middle-order batter Asif Khan was the highest scorer of the team, contributing 46 runs off 54 balls.

Khan hit seven boundaries and a six before Rajbanshi had him caught by Gulshan Jha on the second delivery of the 28th over. The left-arm off spinner then dismissed Zahoor Khan, caught by Arif Sheikh, for a golden duck off the following delivery before the play stopped yesterday.

Rajbanshi, at the time, was on course for a hat trick but failed to achieve the treat at the match resumed today.

Medium-pacer Sompal Kami removed opener and skipper Muhammad Waseem for 11 runs. He was caught by Rajbanshi off the first delivery of the fourth over.

KC then removed Vriitya Aravind and Aryan Lakra on eight and 13 runs respectively, with 35-3 on board. Aravind was caught by wicketkeeper Aasif and Lakra by his sibling, Aarif.

Rameez Shahzad was the next batter to be dismissed for one run, caught by Rajbanshi off Gulsan Jha. Lamichhane then had Rohan Mustafa (2 runs) caught by Kushal Malla with 51-5 on board. Thereon, Basil Hamid (10 runs) was bowled by Gulshan Jha.

Sandeep Lamichhane took his second wicket after he had Aayan Afzal Khan (5 runs) caught by Malla.

KC gave away 26 runs in his seven overs, bowling a maiden, Lamichhane conceded 34 runs in his 10 overs while also bowling two maiden overs.