Nepal have been here before. Needing one win to get promotion or win a title or get to a final, and they fall at the final hurdle. This time they've missed out on promotion to the Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship - the former theoretically a pathway to Test cricket - with the regular schedule of matches that brings. It makes their failure today all the more heartbreaking for them.

Nepal were batting first after losing the toss, and started badly, losing their first three wickets for just 18 runs. It took a partnership from - who else - Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla to get their innings back on track.

The pair put on 48 for the fourth wicket before Khadka was out for 20. The top scorer in the previous two matches, Nepal were on the back foot with his dismissal. Malla wasn't done with his scoring though, as he batted until the end of the Nepal innings, the sole bright spark in a rather disappointing batting display.

Malla was unbeaten on 91 when the last wicket fell in the final over. The Nepal total was 194, with Elijah Otieno the pick of the Kenyan bowlers with 3-47. By this time, the result of the Netherlands v Uganda match was known, and it was clear for Nepal - lose and they were missing out on promotion, barring a surprise in the Namibia v Canada game.

The target of 195 was more than any team had managed against the Nepali bowling attack so far in the tournament, and it was looking well beyond reach when Kenya lost their first two wickets with just 13 on the board.

But Alex Obanda and Irfan Karim got the Kenyan reply back on track with a partnership of 86. They were scoring the runs quickly, aware of a need to get their NRR up above Canada's to avoid relegation. The partnership ended when Obanda was out for 45, and with Collins Obuya quickly following him back to the dressing room, things were on the up for Nepal.

It wasn't to be though as captain Rakep Patel hit 56 from 51 balls as he and Karim put on 104 for the fifth wicket to bring the scores level. Nelson Odhiambo hit the winning run from his first ball, securing a five wicket win for Kenya.

When the result from the Canada v Namibia match became known, Kenya had avoided relegation, but Nepal had missed out on promotion. It left Nepal asking a number of what ifs. What if they'd beaten Uganda on the opening day? What if they'd been more clinical after having Canada 22-5?

These two teams will meet again tomorrow in the third place play-off.