Nepal U19 Suffer Second Asia Cup Defeat After Seven-Wicket Loss to UAE

AL AMERAT, Oman — Nepal’s Under-19 cricket team suffered its second consecutive defeat at the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) chased down a target of 154 to win by seven wickets on 8 November.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Nepal were dismissed for 153 in 41 overs. UAE reached 158 for three in 34.4 overs, completing the chase with 5.2 overs remaining. The result followed Nepal’s opening-match defeat to India by 10 wickets and left the young side facing an important challenge in its remaining group fixtures.

Nepal unable to build a substantial total

Nepal’s innings struggled to develop after an early loss of wickets. The team was reduced to 36 for three, putting pressure on the middle order to rebuild. Sohail Kunwar top-scored with 33 from 71 balls, while Sachin Bhatta contributed 32 from 55 deliveries. Darsh Sonar and Neeraj Kumar Yadav added 16 runs each, but Nepal were unable to produce the partnerships needed to take the total beyond 153.

UAE bowler Naseem Khan was the standout performer, taking five wickets for 43 runs in eight overs. Ayan Misbah claimed three wickets for 22 runs from 10 overs, while Nurullah Ayobi took two wickets. Their disciplined bowling prevented Nepal from accelerating and kept the target manageable.

Misbah anchors the UAE chase

UAE approached the target with control and lost only three wickets. Ayan Misbah played a decisive role, scoring an unbeaten 75 and also contributing with the ball. Kiran Rai supported the chase with 32, while Ahmed Khudadad added 24. Nepal’s captain Bipin Rawal, Nitesh Patel and Sushil Rawal took one wicket each, but the bowlers could not create enough pressure to prevent UAE from reaching the target.

The seven-wicket margin reflected the difference between the sides on the day. Nepal’s total left little room for error, and UAE’s top-order batting ensured that the chase did not become a close contest.

Important response needed in the remaining matches

The defeat was Nepal’s second in the tournament after the opening loss to India. Nepal were scheduled to face Pakistan in their third match on Tuesday, 10 November. The team’s immediate priorities will be to improve its batting partnerships, reduce early wickets and find ways to build a total that gives its bowlers a realistic chance of controlling the opposition.

For a young team, the Asia Cup is also an opportunity to gain experience against strong regional opponents. The performances of Kunwar and Bhatta offered some resistance, but Nepal will need contributions from more players if it is to compete consistently at this level.

Sources: Nepal News; Republica; Full scorecard.