By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – The U-19 cricket team of Nepal has crashed out of the ACC U-19 Asia Cup after facing a one-wicket defeat against Kuwait during their group stage match held in the UAE on Tuesday.
A century from Kuwait’s wicketkeeper captain Meet Bhavsar condemned Nepal to another defeat in the tournament. Nepal bowed out of the tournament without winning any match.
Chasing a target of 240 runs, Kuwait accomplished the feat in 48.5 overs losing 9 wickets. Kuwait’s skipper Bhavsar contributed 175 runs for the team. His century innings included 24 boundaries and a six off 149 balls. Bhavsar has already played 13 T20s representing the national team of Kuwait.
Kuwait were in need of 11 runs from the last 12 balls. Bhavsar scored three boundaries in the second, fourth and fifth balls in the 49th over to secure victory.
Nepal’s Gulshan Jha took three wickets while Bashir Ahmed and Sher Malla grabbed two wickets each.
Earlier, Nepal which opted to bat first after winning the toss posted a total of 239 runs losing all wickets in 42.3 overs. Nepal’s spinner and all-rounder Ahmed had topscored 56 runs off 61 balls. Nepal suffered an early setback after Kuwait’s fast bowler Mirza Ahmed ousted three batsmen of the top order. The tailenders Aadil Ansari and Sher Malla played a crucial 59-run partnership for the eighth wicket to post a respectable score.
Nepal had lost their first match against Bangladesh by 154 runs followed by a 60-run defeat against Sri Lanka. Nepal, who were placed in Group B, crashed out from the group stage losing all three matches.
