Gulsan Jha and Captain Rohit Paudel completed their blistering half-centuries as Nepal posted an 185-run target for Oman in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier played at TU Cricket ground in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Rhinos lost opener Aasif Sheikh quickly as he was caught by Kashyap Prajapati off a delivery by Bilal Khan in 2.4 overs at six runs.

Sundeep Jora, who came to third to bat, was sent back to the pavilion at 10 runs off 13 deliveries at the first ball of the sixth over.

Sheikh’s opening partner, Kushal Bhurtel, however, held the innings for Nepal with a quick 31-run knock from 22 balls with three hits to the fence and two sixes. Bhurtel was caught by Mehran Khan near the boundary off Aqib Ilyas in 7.1 overs.

Kushal Malla was next to go at three runs off nine balls.

Gulsan Jha, who then came to the crease, stepped on the gas and launched an onslaught on Omani bowlers making 54 off 25 deliveries, muscling four sixes and five fours. Jha took only 20 balls to reach his half-century.

Skipper Rohit Paudel made not-out 52 runs off 37 balls, hitting two sixes and five fours following a slow start to his knock. Karan KC chipped in with 2o runs from six balls as Nepal finished with 184-6 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Both Nepal and Oman have already qualified for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. On Friday, Nepal ended their long wait for a return to a Cricket World Cup after they defeated the United Arab Emirates by eight wickets in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Kathmandu. Oman also joined Nepal at next year’s global showpiece after routing Bahrain by 10 wickets at TU Cricket Ground.