Nepal take revenge over UAE

Kathmandu, September 10

Nepali youth cricket team defeated the United Arab Emirates by 160 runs in the final league round match of the U-19 Asia Cup at the FTZ Sports Complex grounds in Katunayake, Sri Lanka today.

Nepal skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel plays a shot against the United Arab Emirates during their U-19 Asia Cup match in Katunayake, Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Photo Courtesy: ACC

The Nepali team, which had faced a one-run defeat under Duckworth-Lewis method against the UAE in the U-19 World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, avenged the loss in style. Batting first, Nepal posted 285-9 in their allotted 50 overs before packing the UAE for a paltry 125 runs in 34.4 overs.

Sagar Dhakal was the pick of the Nepali bowlers taking 3-20, while Rashid Khan, Surya Tamang and Pawan Sarraf claimed two wickets each and Kamal Singh Airee grabbed one for Nepal.

None of the UAE batsmen could reach 30-run mark with Vriitya Anand top scoring for the team with 28 off 34 balls that included four boundaries and a six.

Alishan Sharafu (21), Osama Hassan (16), opener Syed Haider (15) abd Ansh Tandon (12) contributed in double figures but they could not convert them into big knocks.

Both Nepal and the UAE had already crashed out of the semi-finals race with two defeats against Test-playing nations, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Group B.

Earlier, Nepal rode on skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel’s half century and handy contributions from Asif Sheikh, Sandeep Jhora, Rashid Khan and Kamal Singh Airee to post challenging total. Nepal made a disastrous start losing both the openers Rit Gautam and Pawan Sarraf cheaply after the UAE invited them to take the start. Gautam was dismissed in the first ball of the innings, while Sarraf failed to open his account as they returned to the pavilion with just eight runs on the board.

Sheikh and skipper Paudel revived the innings with a 71- run partnership for the third wicket before the former lost his wicket for 45 off 53 balls that included eight boundaries.

Paudel then combined with Sandeep Jhora to add 85 runs for the fourth wicket before Nepal lost two quick wickets.

Paudel top scored with 67 off 84 balls that included nine fours and a six, while Bhim Sharki (one) fell cheaply.

After Jhora was dismissed for 53-ball 48 laced with six boundaries, Kushal Malla and Rashid Khan took the team score past 200-run mark with 25-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Malla scored run-a-ball 22 hitting a four and two sixes. Khan then combined with Airee to ad d 70 runs for the eighth wicket to help the team post challenging total. Khan struck five boundaries and a six in his run-a-ball 44 , while Airee scored a quick fire 41 off 26 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.

Akasha Tahir (3-62) and Sanchit Sharma (3-26) shared six wickets between them for the UAE, while Palaniapan Meiyappan claimed two wickets and Rishabh Mukherjee grabbed one.

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