Asif’s Century and Gulshan’s Half-Century Propel Nepal to Strong Total in ACC Premier Cup Final

Asif Sheikh’s 102 runs and Gulshan Jhākō’s 52 helped Nepal post a commanding total of 313 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs against the UAE in the ACC Premier Cup final. Asif scored his second ODI century and shared an opening partnership of 97 runs with Arjun Kamal. A victory in the final will secure Nepal’s qualification for the Asia Cup. Kathmandu, 12 September.

Capitalizing on the toss at the Tribhuvan Cricket Oval, Nepal chose to bat first and produced a solid total of 313 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Asif Sheikh scored 102 runs off 106 balls, hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes, while Gulshan Jhākō contributed a valuable 52 runs off 38 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes, showcasing excellent form.

Other key contributions came from Arjun Kamal with 43 runs and Rohit Paudel with 40 runs. Before his dismissal, Asif established crucial partnerships — a 97-run stand with Arjun Kamal for the first wicket, a 36-run partnership with Ishan Pandey for the second wicket, and a significant 68-run partnership with Rohit Paudel for the third wicket. For the UAE, Ibrar Ahmed took 4 wickets, Bin Tanvir claimed 2 wickets, while Haider Ali and Adib Usmani took one wicket each. The winner of the final will earn a place in the Asia Cup.