Nepal suffered an eight-wicket loss at hand of Test playing nation Pakistan in their opening match of the ACC U-19 Asian Cup at Bayuemas Oval in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday.
Pakistan U-19 captain Babar Azam won the toss and invitedNepalto bat first. Pakistan bowlers proved their captain’s decision right and bowled out Nepal for 156 runs in 46.1 overs.
Nepallost opener Subash Khakurel (6 runs) after putting up 16-run opening stand with Pradeep Airee (18).
Naresh Budhayair top scored for Nepal with 34 off 85 balls including three boundaries. Budhayair put up a 33-run stand with Airee for the second wicket, a 12-run stand with Sagar Pun (7 runs) and another 40-run fourth wicket stand with skipper Prithu Baskota (28 off 41 balls). The partnership between Airee and Baskota was the highest of the Nepali innings.
Skipper Baskota hit three boundaries during his stay at the center. Rajesh Pulami Magar chipped in with 23 runs off 27 balls while Rahul Vishvakarma added 13 runs off 22 balls.
Pakistani bowlers Azizullah and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets apiece. Likewise, Zia-ul-Haq, Ehsan Adil and Usman Qadir claimed one wicket each. Pakistan conceded 16 runs as extras.
In reply, Pakistan surpassed the lowly total in 37.3 overs losing only two wickets. Pakistani opener Sami Aslam scored an unbeaten 82 runs off 115 balls. He hit 12 boundaries and forged the 98-run opening stand with skipper Babar Azam (48 runs off 64 balls).
Rahul Vishvakarma and Sagar Pun took a wicket each. Sami for his calm and composed knock was adjudged the man of the match.
Nepalwill take on Malaysia on Sunday at the Royal Selangor Club Ground in their second match of the tournament.