Nepal joins Pakistan and India for the final slot in the 2023 Asia Cup.

 The rain-interrupted ACC Premier Cup final at Kathmandu saw an impressive performance from 17 year-old Gulshan Jha, who struck an unbeaten 67 to lead hosts Nepal to a seven wicket victory over the UAE. The win secured Nepal's spot in this year's Asia Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in September. The match resumed from where it had been suspended due to rain the previous day, with the UAE at 106-9. Lalit Rajbanshi completed his excellent work from yesterday, taking the final wicket to finish with figures of 4-14, and see the UAE all out for just 117.

Nepal stumbled early in the chase, losing their openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh, as well as their captain Rohit Paudel. However, the promotion of left-handed all-rounder Jha to number three proved to be a smart move for the hosts. With support from Bhim Sharki, Jha steadied the innings before countering, with the pair's unbroken 96-run fourth wicket partnership seeing Nepal home in 30.3 overs, well before the rain returned.

The weather threatened to return again today, and both sides looked in the grip of extreme urgency as Nepal commenced their chase. With the pitch increasingly offering turn, the UAE began with spin at both ends. However, Nepal's batters' apparent hurry was less explicable, with Bhurtel repeatedly failing to connect with his sweep and eventually being pinned in front by Rohan Mustafa with the eighth delivery of the innings. Aasif Sheikh likewise missed a sweep and was struck on the pad by left arm spinner Aayan Khan, drawing the umpire's finger.

Nepal's skipper Paudel also lost his wicket needlessly, backing away to cut Mustafa and chopping on in the next overs, leaving his side in a precarious position at 3-22. However, the move of promoting the left-handed Jha up the order to counter Ayaan proved to be a sound one, with almost every errant ball put away. Jha got after legspinner Karthik Meiyyapan, taking him for 16 runs in the 18th and effectively putting the game to bed. From there, Jha and Sharki wasted little time in taking Nepal home, finishing the match in style just three overs later.

The victory earns Nepal a place at what would be their first Asia Cup, drawn alongside Pakistan and India as the groups currently stand. The UAE will have to content themselves with a berth at the ACC Emerging Teams Cup, for which they qualify along with Nepal and third-placed Oman. Yesterday new-ball pair Sompal Kami and Karan KC had removed the UAE top three in short order, and the home spinners had built on their good work. Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane took full advantage of a wicket that was starting to offer turn, as well Emirati batsmen at times overly willing to offer up their wickets. Only number six Asif Khan offered serious resistance, striking a 54-ball 46 before falling to Rajbanshi on the penultimate ball before the rain came.