Nepal defeated Malaysia by 107 runs in the second match of Group A in ACC U19 Asia Cup 2012 at Royal Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur today.
A new day and a new opposition, Nepali team were all charged up. They won the toss and elected to bat first. A good opening partnership was expected and Subash Khakurel and Pradeep Airee delivered it today. They shared 74 run partnership before Airee was caught off Krishnan for 39 (56b 6×4 0×6) in 15.5 over. Subash didnot stay longer, as he departed in the next over for 33 (39b 4×4 1×6). He was bowled by Anwar Rahman.
From 74/0 to 74/2, Malaysia tightened the things up with the bowling partnership between SKG Krishnan & Anwar Rahman as they dried up the runs and took crucial wickets in between. Prithu Baskota went without troubling the scoreboard while Naresh Budhayair was stumped for 5.
Sagar Pun and Rajesh Pulami Magar then consolidated the innings together with 84 run partnership for 5th wicket. This was the highest partnership in the Nepal’s inning. Rajesh was runout for 39 (45b 3×4 0×6) but Pun stayed and capitalized the start. He scored 70 runs from 90 balls with 4 fours & 3 massive sixes before he was bowled by Nazril Rahman.
250 runs were on the card as the pitch dried up and a easy pace attack bowling but Nepal lost 7 wickets already and power batting was lacking in the depth overs but a consolation partnership of 37runs between Bhuwan Karki (23*) and Hasim Ansari (21) for the 8th wicket took the score from 208/7(45.0) to 245/8 (49.5).
SKG Krishnan, the Malaysian bowler troubled the most. He took 3 wickets in his 10 overs giving 37 runs and 3 maidens. He was supported by Nazril Rahman (9-0-59-2) & Anwar Rahman (8-0-24-1). There were 13 extras in Nepal’s total.
Malaysia started the chase very slowly. Both the opener P Syafiq Alihad & Fikri Rosdi had a steady start. They managed to score 28 runs in 11.5 overs before Prithu dismissed Ali for 11 runs. Muhamad Syahadat top scored with 36 off 70 balls. Similarly, SKG Krishnan and P Nadaesan scored 23 and 21 respectively. But Malaysia never looked like coming close to the target, they were dismissed for 140 runs in 43.0 overs.
Spinner Rahul Vishwokarma was the star of the second inning. He took five wickets and earned the Man of the Match. His match figure of 8-1-30-5 destructed the Malaysian batting line up. He was well supported by Prithu Baskota and Avinash Karn at the other end, both took 2 wickets each.
“Guys played really well, batting is improving. We need to continue the same form on Tuesday against India. Our bowlers are doing good. Wickets in malaysia are very slow. So fast bowlers doesn’t get much out of it”, Pubudu Dasanayake, the nepali coach shared the experience after the match with cricnepal.
Nepal now will play India in the last match of the Group A on June 26.
