By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – Nepal have won the title of the ACC U-19 Premier Cup 2023 in Malaysia. Nepal defeated UAE by 19 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis (D/L) method to clinch the title. Chasing a revised target of 198 runs in 27 overs, UAE were bundled over in 26.4 overs on 178 runs. The target was revised after rain affected the match when the UAE were 50-2 in 11 overs.
Dhruv Parashar scored the most for the UAE with 59 runs in 49 deliveries with five fours and two sixes. Skipper Aayan Khan made a contribution of 30 runs in 24 deliveries with one four and two sixes. Aryansh Sharma played 37 deliveries to hit three fours and a six to add 32 runs to the total. Other batters faltered in front of the Nepali bowling attack.
Nepal’s Aakash Tripathi took four wickets in five overs, giving away 36 runs in the process. Subash Bhandari had a spell of 3-29 in five overs, while Akash Chand took two wickets for 29 runs in 5.5 overs with a maiden over in his spell.
Earlier, Nepal, who won the toss and chose to bat first at the Bayeumas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, scored 280 runs in 50 overs at the loss of eight wickets. Skipper Dev Khanal scored 100 runs in 92 deliveries, racking up his third century at this level with nine fours and three sixes. He also became the Nepali with the highest number of centuries in U-19 international cricket.
He had scored 100 runs against Iran earlier in this tournament. His first century came against Kuwait in the ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifiers earlier this year. His teammate Arjun Kumal has scored two centuries. Arjun made 55 runs in 78 deliveries with four fours today.
Nepal’s inning was steadied by Dev and Arjun with a 125-run stand in 132 deliveries for the fourth wicket. Opener Deepak Bohora made five runs while Aakash Tripathi was dismissed for a duck.
Deepak Dumre made 30 runs in 28 deliveries with two fours and a six. Uttam Thapa and Deepak Dumre put together a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Uttam, who came into the side in the final made 57 runs off 67 deliveries with four fours and a six, Hemanta Dhami made seven runs, Bishal Bikram KC made three while Dipesh Kandel remained unbeaten on ten runs off seven deliveries with one four in his innings.
UAE’s Harit Shetty took five wickets in his eight-over spell giving away 45 runs. Skipper Aayan Khan took two wickets in 10 overs for 43 runs.
Nepal had already booked their place in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup with a place in the tournament final. Along with Nepal, the runners-up UAE and third-placed Japan will also play the Asia Cup in Pakistan later this year.
