Nepal, UAE book semi-final spots in ACC Trophy

Nepal has qualified for the semi-finals of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy for the first time, following its five wicket win over the Maldives at Sharjah Stadium on Sunday.

It will play Hong Kong in Tuesday's first semi-final, while the host, United Arab Emirates have taken advantage of an easy draw to reach the semi-finals after its six wicket disposal of Japan at Dubai in today's Group B matches. It will play Group A runners-up Malaysia in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

The Nepalis paced their run-chase, at once stage reaching 2-140 with the required run-rate rising to 4.9 runs per over.

Opener and Man-of-the-Match, Kiran Agrawal anchored the Nepalese innings, playing a solid innings of 91 from 130 balls, dismissed with just one run needed for victory.

Wicket-keeper/batsman, Ganesh Thakuri, accelerated Nepal's late charge to the target with 21 from 23 balls.

Earlier, Nepal's problems with dropped catches continued, with three spilled during a blazing 74 run sixth wicket partnership in 9.4 overs between Ismail Nadeem and Ali Samad which allowed the Maldives to post a defendable total.

Nadeem and Samad came together with the score at 88-5 before they began thrashing the Nepali attack. Nadeem's 38 came from just 27 balls, with four sixes, Samad hit three sixes and a four in his 42 from 35 balls.

Earlier captain Moosa Kaleem played a patient innings in a partnership of 48 with Ali Azim, going on to score 35 from 84 balls, after the Maldivians were in early trouble with the ball keeping low at the start of the innings.

Nepal coach, Haroon Rashid, while lamenting the dropped catches, was pleased with the performance of the ground fielding, an area in which Rashid places great faith.

Japan continued its gradual improvement through the tournament as it surprised with a less severe loss than expected against co-tournament favourites, the UAE.

It claimed four UAE wickets as the hosts chased the paltry target of 96 runs in its allocated 50 overs.

While the dismissals owed more to rash Emirates stroke play and debatable lbw decisions than skilled bowling, the Japanese have made relative improvement by posting their highest total ever in the ACC Trophy against the Maldives on Saturday and making a good start against the UAE.

Japan was impressive early in its innings against the United Arab Emirates, passing 50 for the loss of just one wicket against the UAE medium-pacers.

After Nobuyasa Yoshioka was run out at 5-1, Hirokazi Takahashi (18) and Jun Saito (12) combined for a 45 run partership.

The introduction of spin into the UAE attack saw a predictable Japanese collapse, with nine wickets falling for 48 runs. The Japanese succumbed to pressure from close-in fielders, getting caught after hitting the ball uppishly.

Right arm off-spinner, Mohammad Tauqeer, was the main beneficiary, taking 6-10 off six overs, with four of those maidens.