KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Kuwait by a convincing 83 runs in their fourth round match of the ACC U-19 Premier at the Kinrara Oval of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Winning toss, Nepal chose to bat first and made 250/8 in 50 overs.

Nepal defended the target of 251 runs by restricting Kuwait to 167/9.

Hitting six fours and three sixes, Mohammed Meezan Ali made 84 not out off 112. But his solo performance was not enough to chase the target as his colleagues struggled to add runs to the scoreboard.

Earlier in their innings, Dipendra Singh Airee made 85 and Saurav Khanal 73 to help Nepal build the decent target, which proved to be Herculean to their opponents.

Airee and Khanal played a 130-run partnership for the seventh wicket when the former was was out on the last delivery of 42nd over.

Sushil Kandel was the pick of Nepali bowlers taking 2-16. He threw two maiden overs also.

Prem Tamang claimed two wickets, while Aarif Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee sent one Kuwait players each to the pavilion.

For his all-round performance, Airee was acknowledged as the player of the match.

Teams

M

W

L

Pts

NRR

Afghanistan

4

4

8

+4.465

Nepal

4

3

1

6

+1.547

Malaysia

4

3

1

6

+1.463

Kuwait

4

1

3

2

-0.804

UAE

4

1

3

2

-1.232

Saudi Arabia

4

4

-3.301

Source: ACC

Afghanistan and Malaysia won their respective matches today.

Afghanistan registered an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Saudi Arabia and Malaysia defeated the United Arab Emirates by five wickets.

With today's victory, Nepal remain at the second spot with six points from four matches, while Afghanistan remain at the top of the table with eight points after their four straight win.

Hosts Malaysia follow Nepal on the table remaining on the third position with six points based on their net run rate.

Nepal had defeated the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, while lost at the hands of Afghanistan in other matches played earlier.