Nepal will be looking to claim the only title that has eluded it so far in age-group cricket when it takes on host Malaysia in its last match of the ACC U-16 Premier cricket tournament on Wednesday. Nepali boys’ confidence is high after four back to back wins.
Nepal is only a point away from being crowned champion as it leads the table with eight points from four matches, with Malaysia second on seven points.
The match, at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur, is effectively the final of the tournament.
Nepal’s new bowling sensation, Anil Pokhrel, during earlier match at ACC U-16 Premier 2014. Pic courtesy: ACC
The U-16 tournament is the only age-group competition Nepal has not won so far. However, Nepal is aiming to create history by winning the title this time around and also to take revenge of the one-wicket defeat in the final of the ACC U-16 Elite Cup held in Malaysia two years ago.
Nepal and Malaysia have played three matches before at the U-16 level — all of them in the ACC U-16 Elite Cup — with Nepal winning two matches and Malaysia one.
Nepal defeated Malaysia in the 2010 Elite Cup semifinals. It also defeated Malaysia in the group stage of the 2012 Elite Cup, but lost to the same opponent in the final of the tournament.
Nepal opened its ACC U-16 Premier campaign with 10-wicket thrashing of Thailand before beating Singapore by 49 runs. The Nepali team then extended its winning run in imperious fashion, crushing Oman by 102 runs and Bahrain by 186 runs.
Malaysia shared points with Bahrain in its opener but won the next three matches.
Nepal will clinch the title even if the last match ends in a tie, while Malaysia needs to win the match to become champion.
Before leaving for Malaysia, coach Basant Shahi had said that Nepal would lift the title as it has the best spinners and a good batting line-up.
The bowlers and batsmen have proved Shahi right so far in the tournament, but their real test will be against Malaysia today.