Tickets for Australia on the line in Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier A semi-finals
Topping their respective groups, Nepal meet UAE and Ireland face Oman in two eagerly-awaited encounters at the Cricket Academy facility in Al-Amerat.
The two winning teams will take the 13th and 14th spots for the tournament in Australia later this year, with the last two places decided at the B Qualifier in July.
Both semi-finals include fascinating match-ups across bat and ball, and the potential to go down to the wire.
Form (most recent first)Nepal: WWWLL
UAE: LWWLWICC RankingsNepal: 13th
UAE: 12th
Head to head last three T20Is: Nepal 2, UAE 1
Two teams that missed out on T20 World Cup qualification in the last cycle, Nepal and UAE meet on the No.1 ground of the Oman Cricket Academy in a rich vein of form.
Off the back of a lead-in quadrangular series victory, Ahmed Raza's side showed their quality early in the group stage, accounting for Full Member Ireland in an 18-run victory before brushing aside a German challenge on matchday two.
In spite of the early dominance though, the side struggled to cope with the all-out attack of Bahrain, who chalked up 172/5 in their 20 overs, targeting quick Junaid Siddique, who went for 44 off his four overs.
Needing 158 to ensure their net run rate would be superior to their opponents even in defeat, young gun Vriitya Aravind once again lived up to his reputation as one of the game's future stars, easing nerves with a knock of 84* from 52 balls, laced with six fours and five sixes. Aravind ensured his side passed the 158 needed, and almost did enough to win the match in spite of the partners he lost along the way, falling two short of the 26 runs required off the last over.
Forced to chase a score roughly 10 to 15 runs over par in the defeat, Raza will look to his quick bowling cartel to tighten up, with the Powerplay overs crucial in the match with Nepal's emerging top-order group.
The only undefeated side at the tournament, Sandeep Lamichhane's side's strength is still in its bowling group, though the emergence of opening batter Kushal Bhurtel has become a point of difference, highlighted by a blistering century against the Philippines.
His work with Aasif Sheikh will go a long way to victory, taking the pressure off the likes of Gyanendra Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee, who are entrusted to move things along throughout the middle overs.
Bursting onto the Associate scene almost five years ago as a 17-year-old, Dipendra Singh Airee is realising his potential as one of the best players in the emerging game, delivering on a consistent basis with both bat and ball.
His off-spin has been a strong compliment to Nepal's bowling artillery, led by Lamichhane himself, who has been bold in his early stages of captaincy, opting with spin in the Powerplay. It may be the difference against a powerful Muhammad Waseem, capable of firing with the bat and striking at 150 at T20I level.
**Form (most recent first)**Oman: WWLWL
Ireland - WWLWL
ICC RankingsIreland: 15th
Oman: 17th
**Head to head last three T20Is:**Ireland 2, Oman 1
Both entering the Qualifier after First Round exits at last year's Men's T20 World Cup, one of the two sides will experience a double heart-break of sorts in the second semi-final on the No.2 ground in Al-Amerat.
Licking their wounds from a first-up defeat to Nepal, collapsing to 78 all out in pursuit of 117, Zeeshan Maqsood's side made up the ground in matchdays two and three, chasing down 156 set by Canada and emphatically beating the Philippines.
The men in red have learned lessons after the collapse on matchday one, applying more measure than pressure in the top and middle order, through the likes of Kashyap Prajapati and Maqsood, though the skipper has displayed more death-over, six-hitting power than previous tournaments after an early build.
Usual enforcer Jatinder Singh is yet to make a score of note at the tournament, though he may fancy the extra pace from Ireland's quick attack. All-rounder Khawar Ali has assumed the role of the leading spinner of the side, though it's the fast bowling trio of Bilal Khan, Kaleemullah and Fayyaz Butt who will make the early impact with the ball.
The trio come up against Ireland enforcer Paul Stirling, wanting to make the most of a start with the bat at the business end.
The opener has made three scores in the 30s thus far at the tournament, frustratingly departing in the middle overs after solid Powerplay starts. Not quite moving through the gears into the innings' backend thus far, Ireland's batting from overs 10-20 hinges on the work of the numerous all-rounders, with capable hitter Mark Adair potentially featuring as far down as No.8.
Andrew Balbirnie has a number of options with the ball and is able to pivot to a Plan B of spin should the new-ball bowlers struggle early.
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