Nepal’s match against India was the usual story: laudable bowling and poor batting. Bowlers succeeded in bowl out India to 176 but batsmen failed to even scare the Test nation in the crucial tie of the ACC U19 Asia Cup.
The result at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: India beat Nepal by 81 runs to progress to semifinal and Nepal crashed out.
Chasing down a revised 173 run-target in 47 overs, the entire Nepali batting line-up crumbled for 91 in just 27.3 overs.
Rahul BK and Bhuwan Karki each took three wickets apiece to bowl out India in a modest total in 45.2 overs. Likewise, Sagar Pun bagged two wickets, while Avinash Karn and skipper Prithu Baskota took one wicket each.
The Indian innings was largely built around the crucial 64-run partnership between Baba Aparajith (55) and Unmukt Chand (47) for the second wicket. Harmeet Singh and Akashdeep Deependra Nath scored 13 runs each.
Besides, no other Indian batsmen could score in double digits. Nepal conceded 17 runs as extras.
Nepal´s run chase suffered early jolts, losing both the openers Subash Khakurel (9) and Pradeep Airee (7) before the fourth over. Nepal continued losing wickets in regular intervals, Naresh Budhayair (5), Sagar Pun (1) and skipper Prithu Baskota (0), with half the batting line removed by the end of the 13th over with just 20 runs on board.
Hasim Ansari (4) was the next to go. Raju Pulami Magar (17) and Rahul BK (12) offered some resistance with a 20-run seventh wicket partnership. Number nine Bhuwan Karki top scored with 24 for Nepal. Avinash Karn was the last man out for duck.
Man-of-the-match Vikas Mishra took four wickets while Sandeep Sharma, Harmeet Singh and Mohsin Sayyed claimed two wickets each.
Both the sides were in a must-win situation in Tuesday´s match in order to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament. With the win, India qualified for the semifinals as runner up from Group A, while Nepal along with Malaysia are out of the tournament. Pakistan has already qualified for the semifinals as group winner.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan entered the semi-finals from Group ‘B’ after stunning Bangladesh by seven wickets. The Afghans will now meet Group ‘A’ winners Pakistan, who crushed Malaysia by 249 runs today, in on Thursday.
India will play Group ‘B’ toppers Sri Lanka on Friday. Sri Lanka hammered Qatar by 87 runs in their final league match.