Heading in to the final three legs of Cricket World Cup League 2, Nepal needed to win almost every game out of their last 12 to secure automatic qualification. Remarkably, they now find themselves one win away from doing just that to cap what is a remarkable comeback even by the standards of Nepal, who have a habit of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Today's victory over Papua New Guinea was a quick affair, over in fewer overs than a T20 match that goes down to the wire.

Sandeep Lamicchane - whose presence in the team remains a matter of controversy given that he remains on bail awaiting trial for rape of a minor - took 5-25 as the visitors were bowled out for 95 in 32 overs.

Nepal came flying out of the blocks in their run chase with Kushal Bhurtel clubbing 33 from 14 balls before falling in the fourth over. Aasif Sheikh smashed an unbeaten 53 from 21 balls and secured the nine wicket win by hitting two consecutive sixes.

Nepal had won in 39.4 overs and got within one win of qualifying directly to the World Cup Qualifier. That win will need to come in the tournament's final game on Thursday against a UAE side that have looked lost so far in this tri-series. It would be a brave man who bets against Nepal getting that final win on home soil. UAE have another game before Thursday as they take on PNG on Wednesday.