DUBAI: Nepal qualified for their maiden ICC World Twenty20 finals with a five-wicket win over Hong Kong at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Nepal survived a last-over scare to score the required 13 runs, with 10 runs coming from the first two deliveries and a last-ball misfield producing the winning runs.
Joining Nepal at the March 16-April 6 tournament in Bangladesh are the United Arab Emirates, who return to the global stage for the first time in 17 years. The UAE qualified courtesy of successfully defending a modest score of 118 runs to upset the Netherlands by 10 runs.
The last time they competed at this level was at the World Cup in 1996. Nepal and the UAE join Ireland and Afghanistan, who booked their tickets on Monday with the two remaining qualifiers to be determined today. AFP
