Nepal-A prevented Ireland Wolves from completing a clean sweep of the three-match T20 series after overcoming a last-over thriller by three runs in the third and final T20 at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday.

Nepal-A were playing for pride after losing both their first and second T20 against the visitors, and they showed grit and determination to restrict the Wolves, who were chasing 214 for series sweeping victory, to 210-7.

The Wolves needed 20 runs from their last over but could only manage 16.

Wolves’ Fionn Hand came to the strike in the 18.3 overs and played a fierce 7-ball 22, smashing a six off his first delivery to Kamal Airee and a six and a four off Rashid Khan in the first and fourth over, to take his side closer to the target.

The Wolves needed six runs off the last two balls but Aarif Sheikh and wicketkeeper Binod Bhandari ran him out in the fifth ball and Khan gave away just one to Liam McCarthy to win the thrilling battle.

Earlier in their chase, opener Ross Adair scored 31 runs off 14 balls and added 40 runs with James McCollum, who made seven, to give the tourists a fine start.

Bipin Khatri removed both McCollum and Adair in the fourth over to check their aggressive opening before dispatching Peter Moor for two in the sixth over.

But half-centurians Morgan Topping and Gareth Delany put on a 129-stand for the fifth wicket to give the Wolves hopes.

Topping cracked 60 runs off 37 balls, scoring four fours and four sixes. Delany made 68 runs in his 37-ball knock that included five hits to the fences and five maximums.

The Wolves looked heading for another victory, but Khan finally got rid of Topping in the 17.4 overs and Airee trapped Delany in the 18.2 overs to bring Nepal back into the game.

Hand then took over and tortured Nepali bowlers but could not guide the Wolves to victory.

Khatri finished the match with the figures of 3-23. Airee, Narayan Joshi and Khan pocketed one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Nepal-A, invited to bat first, posted 213-7 thanks to an unbeaten 93 from Sheikh.

Nepal-A made a shaky start to their innings cheaply losing openers Lokesh Bam for eight and Dev Khanal for six. Captain and wicketkeeper Bhandari also departed making 11 in the fifth over, leaving the hosts badly positioned at 33-3.

But middle order batter Sheikh shared a 47-run partnership with Basir Ahamad (19) for the fourth wicket, added 40 runs with Pawan Sarraf (13) for the fifth wicket and another 46 runs with Khan (24) for the seventh wicket to guide Nepal to a good total. Number nine batter Airee played not out 19 for Nepal.

Sheikh hit seven boundaries and six maximums in his 48-ball knock.

Hand took two wickets for the Wolves, while McCarthy, Matthew Foster, Delany and Gavin Hoey picked a wicket each.