Surprises as Super Six sides locked in at Asia/EAP T20 World Cup Qualifier

By Daniel Beswick

Nepal, United Arab Emirates and Oman have finished the group stage of the ICC Men's ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier unbeaten, taking two carry over points each into the Super Six stage that will determine the final three places at next year's global event in India and Sri Lanka.

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The trio take forward a win to the next phase by virtue of beating the second place finishers and progressing teams in their respective groups: Qatar, Japan and Samoa.

As third-place finishers, Kuwait, Malaysia and T20 World Cup 2024 participants Papua New Guinea have been eliminated.

It was the Japanese who made arguably the biggest splash in the group phase, chasing down a target of 178 down with panache on matchday two, knocking the Kuwaitis out of the competition.

In possibly the greatest chase in their nation's history, debutant Esam Rahman had a T20I debut to remember, smashing nine fours and two sixes in a knock of 64 from 39 balls. Captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming was run out backing up at the non-striker's end after making a quick-fire 28, though Rahman was helped by the power and placement of Sabaorish Ravichandran (39 from 29) and Ibrahim Takahashi (26 from 15 balls), who found gaps almost at will if not clearing the rope on a tough batting surface.

A Declan Suzuki-McComb scoop sparked the celebrations of Japan's win, and the men in cherry blossom pink also pushed Nepal on matchday three in a battle for top spot.

After brushing aside Kuwait on matchday one, Nepal recovered against the Japanese, chasing down 132 in 18 overs.

Kadowaki-Fleming's 60 (46) included a 16-run stretch in three balls against Sandeep Lamichhane, though the leg-spinner hit back to stifle Japan's death-over charge, with Gulshan Jha (2/20) claiming the captain and Takahashi (4).

The Nepalis stumbled to 90/5, though Jha (28 not out from 20 balls) and Dipendra Singh Airee (14 not out) showed calm to take the Nepalis home.

Despite a slip in their bowling effort on matchday three of the competition, United Arab Emirates were good enough to finish top in their group, accounting for Qatar and Malaysia.

Chasing the Qataris' 118 with ease on the afternoon on day one, Muhammad Waseem's side turned their attention to their second group game against Malaysia, who fell to Qatar on matchday two.

Needing victory and an edge on net run rate, the Malaysians looked down and out at 84/5 in the 13th over, only for a comeback from Ahmad Faiz (54 not out from 39 balls) and Sharvin Muniandy (41 from 22 balls) to push the Malaysians to 161.

The Emirati skipper extinguished any Malaysian fightback, plundering 84 from 53 balls, with Harshit Kaushik (18 not out) and Basil Hameed (12 not out off five) finishing the job to secure top spot.

Oman meanwhile knocked fellow 2024 T20 World Cup participants out with a comfortable 52-run win on the final night of group stage action.

The Omanis were 32/4 in the eighth over after being put in to bat, though a counter-attacking 48 off 24 balls from Vinayak Shukla put the hosts on top at the innings break, and the 138 scored was enough to defend, as left-armers Shah Faisal and Shakeel Ahmed made early inroads with the ball.

Left-arm quick Faisal beat Gaudi Toka (2) early, while Lega Siaka was one of three victims for spinner Shakeel, who finished with 3/15 (4) to prove his importance to the Omani side once more.

Sese Bau fought with 35, though his efforts proved futile as the Barrimundis sunk to defeat, eliminated and winless.

The side were beaten by Samoa on matchday two, though Caleb Jasmat's side could only celebrate progress after PNG's second defeat - the final match of the group stage.

Sean Solia's 62 (45) was the difference in the match between regional rivals on matchday two, though Samoa's chase was made easier thanks to the work of young quick Solomon Nash, who claimed 4/24.

Super Six action begins on 12 October, with the top three at the end of the second phase claiming T20 World Cup 2026 tickets.