Nepal edge Qatar by five runs in Super Six thriller – Lamichhane spins a web (Al Amerat)

Al Amerat, Oman — Nepal survived a late scare to beat Qatar by 5 runs in a Super Six match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier, defending 147/9 after a hard-fought bowling performance led by leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane (5/18). The result keeps Nepal’s momentum intact as they push for qualification from the Super Six stage.

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Quick score

• Nepal 147/9 (20.0 overs) – Captain Rohit Paudel top-scored with 58 off 42.
• Qatar 142 (19.5 overs) – Imal Liyanage 56; Zubair Ali 52. Lamichhane 5/18.
• Result: Nepal won by 5 runs. Player of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane.

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Match summary – how the game swung

1. Nepal set a challenging 148: After losing two early wickets, captain Rohit Paudel steadied the innings with a composed 58 (42), combining rotation of strike and timely boundaries. Dipendra Singh Airee provided useful support with a brisk 26 off 22 during a crucial fourth-wicket 62-run partnership that rebuilt the innings. Sompal Kami and Gulsan Jha’s late hitting pushed Nepal to a defendable total.
2. Qatar’s bright start: Openers Imal Liyanage and Zubair Ali stitched a 79-run opening stand. Liyanage’s 56 (35) put Qatar firmly in the hunt while Zubair soaked up deliveries and rotated strike.
3. Lamichhane turns the match: Introduced just after the powerplay, Sandeep Lamichhane produced a match-defining spell – 5 wickets for 18 runs in 3.5 overs – triggering a dramatic collapse from 97/2 to 142 all out. His variations and control under pressure were decisive. Nandan Yadav and Dipendra Airee chipped in with supporting wickets.
4. Clutch finishes: Qatar threatened late but the combination of pinpoint spin and tight fielding closed out the contest for Nepal by a slender margin.

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Key performances & stats

• Rohit Paudel (NEP) – 58 off 42 (7×4, 1×6): anchored the innings after early setbacks.
• Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP) – 3.5–0–18–5: match-winning leg-spin; named Player of the Match.
• Imal Liyanage (QAT) – 56 off 35: aggressive top-order showing that kept Qatar in command early.
• Zubair Ali (QAT) – 52 off 55: steady companion to the aggressive Liyanage.

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Turning points (minute-by-minute)

• 10th over: Lamichhane bowls the final ball of the 10th and picks up a big wicket – breaks the opening partnership and ends the momentum of the chase.
• Middle overs (11–16): Qatar lost multiple middle-order wickets in quick succession, sliding from 97/2 to 117/6 inside a few overs. Tight dot-ball pressure and inventive spin forced mistakes.
• Death overs: Nepal held composure; clean fielding and accurate yorkers/sloopy balls prevented Qatar from getting neck-and-neck. ESPN

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What this means for Nepal

• The win strengthens Nepal’s Super Six standings and keeps them well placed for a top finish and potential qualification push from this regional pathway. Nepal’s bowling depth – led by Lamichhane – now looks like a match-winning asset in this tournament.

The win follows Nepal’s earlier Group B victory over Japan at Al Amerat on October 10, 2025, a match in which Aasif Sheikh (38) and Gulshan Jha (28) helped Nepal chase 133/5 – reinforcing Nepal’s momentum in the regional final. QuikNepal

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Tactical takeaways

• Bowling plan: Lamichhane’s mix of quicker googlies and leg-spin drift proved hard to pick – teams chasing 140–150 must neutralize his overs or risk a collapse.
• Batting balance: Nepal’s middle order showed character but still needs more consistent partnerships against higher-quality spin in the middle overs.