Shaiman Anwar scored a half-century as UAE bounced back from their one-day international series defeat to Nepal with a win in the first Twenty20 international.
The national team won by 21 runs at the ICC Academy in Dubai, in the first match of the three-game series.
Shaiman, who is ranked No 17 in the world standings for T20 batsmen, hit 59 in 38 balls to lay the platform for the home team to make 153-6 from their 20 overs.
The hosts had started slowly, with Sompal Kami, who took 1-16 from three miserly overs, and Sandeep Lamichhane, with 2-25 from four, continuing their fine form with the ball from the 50-over series.
But Mohammed Boota, as he had done in the final ODI on Monday, provided some much-needed late impetus, with a brisk 20 not out, in partnership with Shaiman.
Mohammed Naveed, the UAE captain, dismissed Pradeep Airee off the first ball of Nepal’s reply, as the national team started the defence of their total with intent.
Zahoor Khan took 2-17 from his four overs, including the prize wicket of Paras Khadka, Nepal’s captain, while Sultan Ahmed also took two.
Sundeep Jora, the 17-year-old batsman, made a half-century on his T20 debut for Nepal, but it was in vain as the tourists reached 132-7 from their 20 overs.
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