Saudi Arabia were bowled out for 190 in 49.2 overs after Nepal’s spinners dismantled their middle and lower order, setting Nepal a target of 191 in the ACC Premier Cup match at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia, who won the toss and elected to bat, lost captain Waji Ul Hassan for a duck in the second over when he was bowled by Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi. Abdul Waheed and Muhammad Atif then rebuilt the innings with a 94-run second-wicket partnership.

Waheed led the recovery with 77 off 89 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes. Atif made 30 from 68 balls, with three fours and a six, before Gulshan Kumar Jha bowled him in the 23rd over.

Waheed continued until the 30th over, when Rajbanshi trapped him lbw. His dismissal triggered a collapse, with Saudi Arabia falling from 112-2 to 166-9 as Nepal repeatedly struck through spin.

Mohammed Hisham Shaikh added 28 off 50 balls, including one four, but was dismissed by Dipendra Singh Airee. Zainul Abidin made 12 from 13 balls before Sher Malla removed him.

Ishtiaq Ahmad and Muhammad Saqib added 24 for the final wicket to lift Saudi Arabia to 190. Saqib made 14 from 13 balls, including a six, before Airee dismissed him in the final over. Ishtiaq remained unbeaten on 10 from 14 balls.

Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane led the attack with three wickets for 19 runs from 10 overs, including two maidens. Airee also took three wickets for 43 from 9.2 overs, while Rajbanshi claimed two for 26 from 10 overs. Malla took one for 36 from 10 overs and Jha one for 34 from four.

Nepal had strengthened its spin attack by replacing fast bowler Hemant Dhami with Malla, and its spinners took nine of Saudi Arabia’s 10 wickets.

Nepal, who beat Bahrain by seven wickets and Malaysia by six wickets in their opening two matches, will reach the semi-finals with a victory. Saudi Arabia have won one and lost two of their first three matches.