Nepal lost the first-ever final at the home turf as Singapore lifted the ACC U-16 Elite Cup on Tuesday.
Singapore with the trophy. Photo by Bikash Karki/myrepublica.com
Singapore scored 146/6 in 40 overs and bowled out Nepal for 78 runs in 22 overs for a 68-run win.
After electing to bat first, Singapore lost oepner Keshav Sashiri in the second over bowled by Devendra Somare.
Ishaan Shekhar, who were aggressive scoring 21 off 12 with four boundaries, tried to hit Satish Bhagat but the ball went to mid-off region where Swichan Shah took a good catch.
At 26/2 in 4.3 overs, Singapore chose to play quietly and next 14 overs they added 32 runs. Vikash Rajgopala and captain Varun Sivaram mostly relying on singles. Sivaram (14 off 40) fell to Rajiv Shah who took a return catch while Mohit Kulkarni (9) was trapped leg-before by Sushan Shrestha as the visitors go 79/4 in 26 overs.
Then Singapore swung the match in their favor with Rajagola racing to his fourth half-century in five matches. Dropped on 23 and 41, he scored 58 off 107 balls with just two boundaries before falling to Nischal Pandey.
Celebrations! Photo by Bikash Karki/myrepublica.com
Wicket-keeper Sam Franks kept the momentum on with 26 off 41 with a four and a six before running himself out in the last ball of the innings. Sidharth Sikka contributed with unbeaten 12 as Singapore finished on 146/6 – a tough score given that Nepal was a team of raw players that was depended on a couple of shoulders.
Nepal bowled 40 overs 35 minutes before the lunch leaving enough time for five overs of its innings. The early signs were good as openers Sharad Khadka and Nischal added 29 in those overs.
Story was totally different after lunch. In next five overs, Nepal lost three wickets for nine runs making it 38/5 in 10 overs – the fate of the match was already decided.
On field umpires for the final - Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan of Nepal who is also an umpire in the ICC Associate and Affiliate Panel and MV Ramesh of Singapore. Photo by Bikash Karki/myrepublica.com
Left-arm spinner Abhiraj Singh struck in the seventh over with Sharad being stumped. Two balls later, off-spinner Navin Param gave a blow taking the wicket of Nischal.
Swichan failed in fifth match straight going for a big shot – immediately after surviving a stumping on similar shot. He was second victim to Navin, who also struck in next over dismissing Dipendra Chand in a backfoot leg-before. Sushan Shrestha was run-out and it was 48/5.
Saisrikar Pogaru took three wickets for 10 runs while Shivan Ahuja grabbed the last one as Nepal was bowled out at miserable 78 in 22 overs.
This is the first-ever final that Nepal lost at home. For Singapore, who won the ACC U-15 Elite Cup two years ago, it was second title they won in Nepal.
Nischal Pandey of Nepal won the best bowler and man of the series award while Vikas Rajagolapa was named best batsman of the tournament.
Nischal Pandey with best bowler and man of the series awards. Photo by Bikash Karki/myrepublica.com