ACC U-19: Nepal Overcome UAE

Three-time champions Nepal moved a step closer to its fifth semifinal defeating United Arab Emirates (UAE) by six wickets in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup at the Kinrara Oval on Wednesday.

Stylish batsman Gyanendra Malla batted brilliantly for his 47 to help Nepal chase the target of 124 in 32.4 overs losing only four wickets. UAE managed just 123 in 43.2 overs in their innings.

With the win, Nepal stands atop the points table in Group A with four points while UAE, Oman and Singapore all have two points from two matches. Nepal plays lowly Thailand on Thursday at the Club Aman and the victory will ensure Nepal’s place in the semifinal. Nepal had never missed the spot in the final of the event since 1997.

At Kinrara Oval, Nepal had a bad start losing both the openers for 11 runs – all scored by Mahesh Chhetri while experiment to use Sagar Khadka as an opener didn’t yield much. But Gyanendra along with Paras batted patiently adding 70 runs for third wicket.

Paras was out scoring 33 runs off 50 balls with four boundaries while Gyanendra stayed at the crease till the end. He remained unbeaten on 47 scored off 76 deliveries. He hit four boundaries and two sixes.

He was briefly partnered by Akash Gupta, who got all his 12 runs off boundaries, and Antim Thapa, who remained unbeaten on 13 off 32 balls.

Earlier, man of the match Sagar Khadka’s brilliant fielding helped Nepal to bowl out UAE for a modest total. After losing opener Ashish Dhingra at 8, other opener Arjun Lamba and Shehan Meluka Dharmasena consolidated UAE’s innings partnering 61 runs.

Lamba was the topscorer of the innings with 46 while Dharmasena got 24 and Roshan Mustafa got 21. They were at a very good position of 91/2 in 24 overs but lost last eight wickets for only 32 runs.

Sagar claimed three of them while four were run out. Raj Shrestha, Rahul Kumar Biswokarma and Amrit Bhattarai each got a wicket.

Despite the win, coach Roy Dias was not too happy. “We have to change the opening pair,” he said. “This was a vital and tough match and I am happy with the way spinners, especially Sagar and Rahul, bowled.”