Nepal achieved a laudable five-wicket victory over Kenya in the World Twenty20 Cup qualifiers at GCA, Dubai to set the seventh-place playoff clash with Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Nepal defeated Kenya, an One-Day International (ODI) nation, by 5 wickets with two balls remaining.
Kenya won the toss and elected to bat. Nepal restricted the 2003 World Cup semifinalist Kenya at 139/4 and met the target in 19.4 overs losing five wickets.
Nepal will take on Papua New Guinea, who defeated Italy by 12 runs in the other seventh-place playoff semifinal.
The seventh place play-off could be a chance for Nepal to avenge Papua New Guinea, who had defeated Nepal by 35 runs in group stage match of the ongoing tournament.
Nepali openers Anil Mandal and Pradeep Airree put up 64-run opening stand in chasing the 140 runs target. It was the best opening stand for Nepal in the tournament.
Mandal scored 32 runs off 36 balls including four boundaries. Gyanendra Malla lost his wicket adding just five runs.
Captain Paras Khadka anchored the Nepali innings while Airee played a winning-knock. Airee blasted 45 runs off 38 balls. He struck four boundaries and two sixes. Airee was out when Nepal reached 98 runs in 15.2 overs.
Mehboob Alam was out for five runs and Prithu Baskota added eight runs.
However, sloppy fielding and indiscipline bowling cost dearer to Kenya. Nepal reached 141/5 with two balls remaining as skipper Khadka remained unbeaten with 26 runs and Basanta Regmi added unbeaten three runs.
Kenya gave away 17 runs as extras.
Earlier, openers Duncan Allan and Alex Obanda put up 34-run partnership for the first wicket. Obanda (23 runs off 20 balls) was bowled by Basanta Regmi in the sixth over.
Allan then put up 64-run second wicket partnership with Collins Obuya. Allan scored 32 runs off 42 balls before Mehboob Alam caught him off Sanjam Regmi.
Collins Obuya added 52 runs off 42 balls. He scored three boundaries and a six during the blistering innings but Basanta Regmi bowled him out.
Rakep Patel added 15 runs before wicketkeeper Gyanendra Malla stumped him out off Basanta Regmi. Ragheb Aga (9 runs) and Morris Ouma (6 runs) remained unbeaten.
Basanta Regmi was awarded the man-of-the-match for his bowling performance.
Cricket Nepal covered the match live! Here is the archive of the live coverage: