KATHMANDU: Nepal emerged triumphant in the ACC U-19 Premier Cup cricket championship, securing a well-deserved victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final, which coincided with Vijayadashami day.
In a rain-affected final held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nepal triumphed by a margin of 19 runs. Nepal initially set a challenging target of 281 runs for UAE to chase in the full 50 overs. However, a rain interruption in the middle of the game altered the dynamics, reducing the target to 198 runs in 30 overs.
Rain halted play after UAE had managed to score 50 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 11 overs. Subsequently, the rain-affected game resumed with a revised target, and UAE strived to reach 178 runs in 26.5 overs, losing all their wickets in the process.
Aakash Tripathi secured 4 wickets, Suvash Bhandari claimed 3, Akash Chand took 2, and Hemant Dhami contributed with 1 wicket. Dhruv Parashar emerged as the top scorer for UAE with 59 runs.
Nepal batted first after winning the toss, posting a total of 280 runs while losing 8 wickets within the stipulated 50 overs. Captain Dev Khanal played a pivotal role, notching a century by scoring 100 runs off 92 balls. Uttam Rangu Thapa Magar and Arjun Kumal also made significant contributions, with 57 and 55 runs, respectively.
Nepal’s flawless record in the tournament has earned them qualification for the U-19 Asia Cup, a feat shared by UAE as both teams that reached the final will represent the region in the Asia Cup.
In the semi-final, Nepal secured an impressive 143-run victory against Japan, based on the Duckworth-Lewis method. They also defeated Saudi Arabia by a massive 302 runs and clinched victories over Bahrain by 7 wickets and Iran by a commanding 274 runs during the group stage.
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