Unbeaten half-centuries from Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh power Nepal to a comfortable chase in Chennai.
Nepal Dominates Warm-Up Clash in Chennai
Nepal national cricket team registered a commanding seven-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates national cricket team in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a modest target of 146, Nepal reached 148 for 3 in just 17 overs, driven by a match-winning, unbeaten partnership between Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh.
UAE Post 145 After Late Recovery
Batting first, the UAE finished on 145 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began steadily, with the side reaching 41 for 1 in the powerplay as Aryansh Sharma set the early tempo.
Momentum dipped through the middle overs as Nepal’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, preventing the UAE from building sustained partnerships. The slowdown threatened to leave the UAE well short of a competitive total.
A late surge restored some balance. Sohaib Khan scored 38 off 27 balls, while Harshit Kaushik added a brisk 35 from 24 deliveries. Their 50-run partnership lifted UAE past the 140-run mark, though the total still looked slightly under par on the Chennai surface.
Nepal Bowlers Keep Tight Control
Nepal’s bowling effort was led by Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane, who picked up two wickets each while conceding 26 and 24 runs respectively.
Dipendra Singh Airee contributed with the ball as well, returning impressive figures of 1 for 12 and reinforcing Nepal’s control during the middle overs.
Early Stumbles in the Chase
Nepal’s reply began shakily. The side slipped to 45 for 3, losing early wickets and briefly allowing UAE back into the contest.
The setback, however, proved temporary.
Airee and Aarif Take Charge
Aarif Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee combined to completely change the complexion of the match. The pair first stabilised the innings before accelerating with confidence and clarity.
Both batters reached their half-centuries. Aarif Sheikh remained unbeaten on 61 off 37 balls, while Dipendra Singh Airee finished on 50 not out from 31 deliveries. Their unbroken 103-run partnership ensured there were no further alarms, guiding Nepal to victory with 18 balls to spare.
Momentum Ahead of Final Warm-Ups
The emphatic win highlighted Nepal’s growing batting depth and composure under pressure, offering strong momentum ahead of their final warm-up match against Canada on February 5.
UAE, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly before facing Italy in their last warm-up fixture on February 6, as both teams fine-tune preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026
Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh star as Nepal beat the UAE by 7 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match. (Picture credit: X)
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