Kathmandu, November 25:

Two-time defending champions Nepal opened their campaign with a 25-run win over Malaysia in the ACC Under-15 Elite Cup cricket tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Put into bat first, Nepal scored 178-7 in 40 overs and packed Malaysia for 153 in 39.4 overs. Malaysia jolted the hosts early in the sixth over when Mohammed Ramdin Samsudin had opener Sagar Pun (8) who mistimed a pull shot to wicketkeeper Zubir Asyraff. But wicketkeeper Aakash Pariyar and skipper Prithu Baskota laid the foundation for the home team’s victory with an 86-run second wicket stand.

Pariyar struck five boundaries in his 65-ball 48 while Baskota made 38 runs off 71 balls including five fours. Both the batsmen fell prey to man of the match Ahmad Zahid Adnan (5-39). Pradeep Airee (17), Sunil Sunwar (13 not out) and Krishna Sen (12 not out) also chipped in valuable runs for the hosts.

Malaysia were cruising along nicely chasing 179-run target until the dangerman Zuber Asyraff was run out by Sameer Nepal in the 18th over ending the 65-run opening partnership with Faizshal Niaz-Lyn. Zubair, who got a reprieve on 13 when wicketkeeper Pariyar spilled a routine catch off Sunil Sunar, scored 38 off 62 including five hits to the fence. Faizshal remained unbeaten on 24.

Bibek Dali was the pick of the Nepali bowlers with 3-17 from eight overs. Pradeep Airee claimed two while Sunil Sunar, Krishna Sen and Bhuwan Karki took one wicket each. Nepal will play next Group A match against Thailand at the Birendra Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya on Tuesday.

In another Group ‘A’ match, Hong Kong overcame a mammoth total to beat Oman by six wickets. Batting first, Oman accumulated 221-5 in 40 overs and Hong Kong chased the total with 17 balls to spare.

Gaurav Vinayak Honavar scored an unbeaten 81 and Nikhil Kurivilla Xavier made 49 to help Oman cross 200-run mark. Niaz Ali (34) and Nizakat Khan (85 not out) consolidated the Honk Kong innings with 73-run stand after early blows before Nizakat and Jasan Lui shared 47-run stand for fourth wicket.

In Group ‘B’ matches, Afghanistan beat Saudi Arabia by nine wickets and the UAE defeated Singapore by six wickets. Batting first, Saudi Arabia were bowled out for 66 runs in 19.3 overs before Afghanistan made 72/1 in 6.3 overs. Singapore made 170-9 in 40 overs and the UAE surpassed the total in 36 overs losing four wickets.

SCOREBOARD

NEPAL

Sagar c Zubir b Samsudin 8

Akash b Adnan 48

Prithu st Zubir b Adnan 38

Pradeep c Norhaizan c Adnan 27

Bhuwan b Adnan 5

Nischal c Samsudin b Adnan 9

Bibek run out 2

Sunil not out 13

Krishna not out 12

Extras: 16 (nb 1, w 13, lb 2)

Total: 178/7 (40 overs)

FoW: 1-16, 2-102, 3-107, 4-131, 5-147,

6-152, 7-152

Malaysia bowling: Rahim 5-0-10-0,

Samsudin 5-0-24-1, Redzuan 3-0-21-0, Rusli 7-0-31-0, Goonasagaran 8-0-28-0, Adnan 8-1-39-5, Nadaegan 4-0-23-0

MALAYSIA

Zubair run out 38

Niaz-lyn not out 24

Goonasagaran b Bibek 2

Anuar st Akash b Bibek 0

Rusli ct & b Bibek 10

Norhaizan b Sunil 32

Samsudin c Sameer b Krishna 3

Adnan lbw b Bhuwan 0

Nadaesan b P radeep 7

Rahim c Bibek b Pradeep 18

Redzuan run out 0

Extras: 19 (nb 1, w 13, b 1, lb 4)

Total: 153 (39.4 overs)

FoW: 1-65, 2-68, 3-74, 4-87, 5-95, 6-96,

7-127, 8-140, 9-141

Nepal bowling: Sunil 8-1-30-1,

Pradeep 6.4-0-30-2, Sameer 4-0-21-0, Sagar 1-0-3-0 Bibek 8-1-17-3,

Krishna 5-0-23-1, Rochak 1-0-8-0,

Bhuwan 6-1-16-1