Kuala Lumpur, August 2:

Afghanistan tailenders scored 113 runs in 26 overs as they beat Nepal by three wickets in the third-place playoff match here at the Bayuemas Oval today.

Chasing 211 runs to win the match, Afghanistan tail kept the Nepali bowlers at bay as they added more than half of the total runs. Batting first, Nepal scored 210-8 in 50 overs and Afghanistan overcame the target losing seven wickets in 48.2 overs. At one stage, the Afghans were reeling at 100-6, but No 6 Mohammed Nabi and No 8 Samiullah Shinwari scored half centuries.

Mohammed Nabi and Shinwari added 59 runs for the seventh wicket after Afghanistan lost the top five batsman for 88 runs and another one at 100-6. Shinwari then combined with Ahmad Shah Ahmadi (26 not out) to see the team home with an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 54 runs.

Nabi scored runs at will hitting four fours and two sixes in his 56-ball 55, while Shinwari remained unbeaten on 51 off 90 balls that included four boundaries. Ahmadi also hit two fours and a six in his unbeaten 26 off 27 balls. Skipper Nowroz Mangal (20), Shafiqulah Shafaq (20) and Asghar Stanikzai (16) also chipped in valuable runs.

Paras Khadka took 3-35 and Raj Kumar Pradhan claimed 2-34 for Nepal. Shakti Gauchan and Sanjam Regmi pocketed one wicket each.

Earlier, the Nepali openers put on 52 runs on the board before Lohani was run out for 26 off 39 balls including five fours. Chaugain departed after adding 26 runs for the second wicket with Sharad Vesawkar (19). Chaugain’s 43 off 63 balls including seven fours.

Paras Khadka (22), Gyanendra Malla (21), Mahesh Chhetri (29), Mehboob Alam (12) all scored in double figures but no pair could build meaningful partnership. Skipper Binod Das (13) and Sanjam Regmi (12) remained unbeaten.

Nepal’s coach Roy Luke Dais believed players cautious attitude and untimely change in bowling cost them the match. “Moreover, the players also could not deliver their best due to the back to back matches,” added Dias.

Skipper Binod Das admitted that they failed to add few more runs on the board. “Our expensive opening (bowling) spell also turned out to be fatal,” said Das. Das also rued dropped catches.

SCOREBOARD

NEPAL

P Lohani run out 26

K Chaugain c Nabi b Shinwari 43

S Vesawkar b Sadiq 19

P Khadka c Haq b Wafa 22

G Malla c Mangal b Sadiq 21

S Gauchan c Nabi b Wafa 1

M Alam c Nabi b Ahmadi 12

M Chettri run out 29

B Das not out 13

S Regmi not out 12

Extras: 12 (b2, lb1, nb3, w6)

Total: 210/8 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-52, 2-87, 3-108, 4-134, 5-140, 6-140,

7-167, 8-189

Afghanistan bowling: H Gul 3.3-0-16-0,

A Stanikzai 3-0-17-0, M Nabi 6.3-0-31-0,

A Ahmadi 10-0-27-1, A Wafa 10-2-35-2,

S Shinwari 5-0-32-1, N Mangal 2-0-12-0,

Karim Sadiq 10-0-37-2

AFGHANISTAN

N Mangal c Chettri b Khadka 20

S Shafaq c Alam b Khadka 27

N Haq c Chaugain b Pradhan 7

K Sadiq b Gauchan 0

A Stanikzai b Khadka 16

M Nabi c Malla b Regmi 55

R Ahmadzai c Malla b Pradhan 4

S Shinwari not out 51

A Ahmadi not out 26

Extras: 7 (b4, w3)

Total: 213/7 (48.2 overs)

FoW: 1-49, 2-51, 3-51, 4-72, 5-88, 6-100, 7-159

Nepal bowling: M Alam 3-0-20-0,

B Das 6-1-43-0, S Gauchan 9-1-26-1,

P Khadka 9-2-34-3, R Pradhan 10-2-35-2,

S Regmi 9.2-0-39-1, S Vesawkar 2-0-12-0