Nepal defeated Ireland Wolves by six wickets in the first T20 at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday.

Needing 122 for victory, the Rhinos completed the chase in 16.1 overs, but had to survive a scare from the Irish leg spinners.

Openers Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel gave Nepal a fine start adding 32 runs from the first 19 balls.

But, Nepal lost three quick wickets and were reduced to 37-3 in the space of nine balls after Irish captain Neil Rock introduced leg spinners Gareth Delany (2-28) and Ben White (1-27).

Delany, who has played 21 T20Is and 64 ODIs for the Ireland senior side, trapped Sheikh leg before for 16 in the 3.2 overs and removed Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel for a duck two balls later to unsteady the Nepal innings.

When Gulsan Jha joined the dugout in the 4.5 overs, it appeared Nepal were heading for another batting collapse—a plague that has resurfaced in coach Monty Desai’s team recently.

Their batting inconsistencies had cost them the Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series and Hong Kong T20I Series trophies, and were able to win only one of their three matches of the home tri-series of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2023-27)—all in February.

But Bhurtel and Sundeep Jora held their nerves and put on a match-winning 54-run stand for the fourth wicket. Jora fell to Thomas Mayes in the 13.1 over, making 36 runs off 35 balls.

Dipendra Singh Airee then added a quickfire 12-ball 20 to guide Nepal to a comprehensive victory, with 23 balls to spare.

Bhurtel played an unconquered knock of 32-ball 37.

Earlier, Nepal, who were invited to field first, wrapped up the tourists for 121, thanks to a batting failure that saw Stephen Doheny battle alone on a dry, slow wicket.

Dhoney, who scored 46 runs facing 39 deliveries, held up one end desperately looking for a partner to build the inning but never found one.

Opener Ross Adair started the Wolves innings with a stylish four off the very first ball but Karan KC bowled him in the next delivery.

It triggered a collapse in the Wolves batting order as Cade Carmichael (8), Morgan Topping (0), Rock (5), Delany (4) all departed cheaply after Jha (2-13), Lalit Rajbanshi (2-16) and Bhurtel (2-17) struck continuously.

Doheny walked back to pavilion next, in the 14th over, after Bhurtel had him caught by Airee.

Finon Hand (11), Mayes (16) and Liam McCarthy (16) as the Wolves limped to 121 all out in the allotted 20 overs.

Kushal Malla also pocketed one wicket for Nepal.

The two sides meet again in the second T20 on Tuesday.

The Irish team, who are visiting Nepal for the first time, will also play three T20s and three ODs against Nepal A, from March 28 to April 7.

After the conclusion of two-match T20 series against the Wolves, Nepal will travel to India to play against state teams of Gujarat and Baroda in the SMS Friendship Cup at Vapi, Gujarat.

The Friendship Cup will take place from March 31 to April 7.

Nepal are preparing for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the United States and West Indies in June.