Dipendra Singh Airee gave an allround display as Nepal earned the coveted One Day International (ODI) status with a crushing six-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea in a seventh place playoff semi-finals at the Old Hararians ground in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Thursday.

The PNG rout, however, was not in itself enough for Nepal to earn the status as they also needed the helping hands from the Netherlands to beat Hong Kong in the other playoff semi-final, which the Dutch won by 44 runs at the Kwekwe Sports Club. The Qualifiers gave three highly-ranked non-Test teams with ODI status and Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) retained it with their entry into the Super Six stage.

The Dutch, also a non-Test playing country, were already ensured of the ODI status prior to the tournament after winning the World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) title. And their victory over Nepal was enough to seal the ODI status for the team. Nepal and Dutch will now play the seventh place playoff final at the Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday.

Nepal headed into Thursday’s playoff semi-final with twin defeats to their name against PNG in the WCLC fixtures but leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and Airee made sure they didn’t lose this one picking up four wickets each to bundle out PNG for a below-par 114 in 27.2 overs. Nepal went through an early wobble at 35-3 but Airee anchored the ship with a crucial partnership with Aarif Sheikh and guided the team to 115-4 with 162 balls to spare.

Opener and vice captain Gyanendra Malla’s poor run of form continued after he was out for just a single in the second over. Anil Sah (nine) soon followed his opening partner and Khadka once again scored fluently but lost his wicket to John Reva after making an 18-ball 20 with two fours and a six.

Airee took time to settle after he stepped in to the crease before cutting loose as Nepal inched towards their first ever victory over PNG. Airee and Sheikh put on 67 for the fourth wicket to hand Nepal second consecutive victory in the tournament. Shiekh lost his wicket to Norman Vanua after making 42-ball 26 with a boundary.

Man-of-the-match Airee struck three sixes and a boundary in his unbeaten 50 off 58 deliveries. The middle order batsman reached his half century in style smashing Vanua for a six, which was also the last winning stroke. Earlier, seamers Sompal Kami trapped PNG skipper Asad Vala (10) and opener Tony Ura (11) cheaply to give Nepal the early initiative. Lamichhane then accounted for four middle order wickets as PNG were reduced to 78-6 in 18.3 overs. Charles Amini and Jason Kila fought briefly with a 28-run seventh wicket partnership.

Airee, however, triggered the final collapse for PNG bowling out Amini for 19 off 18 balls. With Amini’s dismissal, PNG lost their last four wickets for just eight runs. Airee took 4-14 from 4.2 overs and Lamichhane returned with his best figures in current Qualifiers taking 4-29 from eight overs.

ICC WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Summary

Nepal 115-4 in 23 overs (DS Airee 50*, A Sheikh 26; N Vanua 2-25, JB Reva 1-10) beat PNG 114 in 27.2 overs (C Amini 19; DS Airee 4-14, S Lamichhane 4-29) by six wickets