Airi’s century powers Nepal to 289, sets 290-run target for UAE

Kathmandu: Nepal has set a target of 290 runs for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the triangular series under the ICC World Cup League-2, powered by a century from Dipendra Singh Airi.

Batting first after winning the toss at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, Nepal posted a total of 289 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Dipendra Singh Airi led the innings with an impressive 100 runs off 94 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six. He was run out on the final ball of the innings.

In the middle order, Gulshan Jha scored 44 runs from 38 balls. Opener Binod Bhandari contributed 56 runs off 79 balls, while captain Rohit Paudel added 39 runs from 48 balls. Bhim Sarki was dismissed without scoring, Arjun Kumal made 11 runs, and Arif Sheikh added 11 runs.

Nepal faced early pressure in the opening overs, but a key partnership between Airi and Bhandari helped stabilize and build the innings.

For UAE, Junaid Siddiqui and Ajay Kumar claimed two wickets each, while Haider Ali and Khuzayma Tanvir took one wicket apiece. UAE have now begun their innings in response.