Kuala Lumpur, July 30:

Nepal defeated Kuwait by seven wickets here today to top the Group B of the ACC Trophy

Elite Cup with maximum eight points.

Nepal won their fourth match to accumulate eight points, while Hong Kong came second in the group with six points. In the semi-finals on Friday, Nepal will face the Group A runners up the United Arab Emirates at the Selangor Turf Club, where Nepal won two league matches. Afghanistan finished first in the Group A and will face Hong Kong in the semis.

In the last league round match, Nepal bowled out Kuwait for a paltry 103 runs in 38.1 overs after they elected to bat. In reply, Nepal overcame the target in 29 overs but not before struggling losing three quick wickets.

The new opening pair of Kanishka Chaugain and Mehboob Alam also could not lay the foundation for the team. Alam was promoted to the opening slot in place of veteran Paresh Lohani, who was dropped for the match.

Nepal lost hard hitting Alam (6) at the score of 20 runs, while Chaugain made 19 runs. Chasing the low target, Nepal came under pressure after they lost the third wicket at the total of 58 runs. Dipendra Chaudhary, who replaced Lohani in the team, was out for just three runs.

But Sharad Vesawkar and vice captain Paras Khadka saw the team home without further loss. The pair shared an unbroken stand of 46 runs. Vesawkar remained unbeaten on 28, while Khadka scored not out 26 runs. Nepal’s run chase started with a wide ball and ended in the same fashion.

Earlier, Nepal could have dismissed Kuwait well below 100 runs, but the last pair of Abdul Rehman and Saad Khalid stayed at the crease for more than an hour adding 25 runs.

Also, Chaugain and Chaudhary dropped one catch each at slips. Kuwait’s innings ended when skipper Binod Das caught Rehman off the bowling of leg spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan while the batsman went on for a huge shot.

It was Alam who did the most damage by claiming the first three Kuwaiti wickets. Alam bowled Jagnath Rosamtha (11), had Nadim Malik (2) caught by Dipendra Chaudhary and trapped M Hasan leg before the wicket for a duck. Alam conceded 34 runs in his 10-over spell that earned him the man of the match award. Murad Muhammed top-scored for Kuwait with 19 runs.

Shakti Gauchan was also outstanding in his bowling. He returned with the figures of 8-4-5-3, while Binod Das took 2-37 and Paras Khadka and Raj Kumar Pradhan claimed one each. Of the six bowlers used by skipper Das, Sanjam Regmi, who replaced Basanta Regmi, returned wicket less but was economical as he yielded just two runs in his six-over spell that included four maiden overs.

After the win, coach Roy Luke Dias praised the players for putting up another good show. He also hoped the players would maintain the spirit in the remaining two matches. “I am happy with the boys performance here and today they did well in batting, bowling and fielding,” he said.

However, Dias was disappointed with the openers, who have failed to make the foundation so far. “I will continue with Paresh Lohani and Kanishka Chaugain in the next match,” he added.