Following Sushant Bhari’s all-round performance, Yagyaman Kumal’s magical bowling spell and anchoring knock of Amit Shrestha, Nepal started the ACC U-19 Elite Cup campaign on a winning note registering an 84-run victory over Kuwait on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The victory maintained Nepal’s winning streak against Kuwait in the age group.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first at Kinrara Oval, Nepal were all out for 193 in 43 overs but returned to bowled out Kuwait for 109 in 36.2 overs, securing an easy win.
Openers Nischal Pandey (10 runs off 15 balls) and Amit Shrestha put up a 20-run partnership. Pandey was bowled by Shahrukh Quddus in the fourth ball of the fourth over. However, Shrestha and Harishankar Shah put up a 69-run partnership for the second wicket. Shrestha scored 46 runs off 52 balls including seven boundaries.
Nepal then suffered a mini-collapse as Captain Bhuwan Karki (0), Nirmal Thapa (1), Shah (23) and Prem Tamang (6) lost their wickets one after another. Avinash Karn (3 runs off 17 balls) and put up a 21-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Pawan Shrestha, who added 23 runs off 23 balls before Ali Zaheer bowled him out.
Nepal was at 126/8 in 28.2 overs but Sushant Bhari (28 runs off 33 balls) and Irshad Ahmed put on 40-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Ahmed remained unbeaten with 18 runs off 40 balls and also put up a 27-run partnership for the last wicket with Kumal (9).
Abdul Jabbar was the pick of Kuwait bowlers, taking four wickets, while Shahrukh Quddus and Ali Zaheer accounted for two Nepali scalps each. Fazlur Rahman and Mohammed Meezan Ali grabbed a wicket each. Kuwait bowlers gave away 26 runs from extras.
Defending the total, Kumal took three wickets and Bhari grabbed two to restrict Kuwait to way short of the winning target. Abhinash Karn, Bhuwan Karki and Nischal Pandey shared the remaining three wickets among them while two of the Kuwait batsmen were run out.
Kumal, the first cricketer from remote Achham district to play for any national squad, kept his first over a wicket-maiden and then claimed two wickets in his next over giving away only a run. His magical spell gave an early blow to Kuwait and the Arab team did not get chance to consolidate innings. Kumal’s bowling figure in the match was 9-1-16-3.
For the losing side, No 10 Shahrukh Quddus top scored with a cameo of 36 off 32, including a four and three sixes. Batting at No 4, Faizaan Siddiq scored 21 runs off 67 balls and No 9 Mohammed MuKadam added 11 runs. Besides, no other Kuwait batsmen could score in double figures.
Nepal’s Bhari was adjudged man of the match for his all-round performance. Nepal will next take on Qatar on Sunday.