Kathmandu, February 18:

Nepal blew away an opportunity to pull an upset win over Sri Lanka in their Group C match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at Penang Sports Club in Malaysia today.

First, Nepal created a chance to bowl out the Test-playing nation to a low total when they reduced the Lankans to 58/4 in 15 overs and then failed to capitalise on a solid opening partnership of 61 runs in 15 overs.

Electing to bat, Sri Lanka accumulated 239/9 in 50 overs, while Nepal were all out for 175 runs in 48.5 overs. Lankans won the match by 61 runs. Nepali seamer Amrit Bhattarai put the Lankans in early trouble claiming four wickets with just 58 runs on the board.

Skipper Ashan Subasinghe and Sachith Pathirana rescued their team with a fifth-wicket stand of 72 runs. Subasinghe’s 46 off 83 balls contained five fours while man of the match Pathirana hit seven fours in his 60-ball 62. Thisara Perera remained unbeaten on 41 off just 27 balls hitting two fours and two sixes, while Roshane Silva contributed 20 off 47 balls and Chathura Peiris made 15 off 16 balls.

For Nepal, Amrit Bhattarai claimed 4-42 off 10 overs, while Rahul Vishwokarma took 2-53 in 10 overs. Skipper Paras Khadka, Raj Shrestha and Sagar Khadka pocketed one wicket each.

In reply, Nepal had a solid start with Mahesh Chhetri and Anil Mandal scoring 61 runs in 15 overs before Mandal departed for 25 off 42 balls. Chhetri then shared a 17-run second-wicket with Gyanendra Malla (7) but fell as the third wicket four runs later. The wicketkeeper-batsman played a patient knock of 39 off 69 balls hitting five fours.

After Akash Gupta and Skipper Paras Khadka took the team to 128, with the fourth-wicket stand of 46 runs, the Nepali players failed to build meaningful partnerships and lost wickets in regular intervals before being packed for 175 with seven balls remaining. Khadka hit one four in his 42-ball 25, while Gupta made 24 off 44 balls including a boundary. Rahul Vishwokarma (10) was the only other batsman to score in double figures.

For Sri Lanka, Sachith Pathirana followed up his brilliant batting taking 3-32 off 10 overs and earned the man of the match award. Umesh Karunarathna, Navin Kavikara and Angelo Perera claimed two wickets apiece.

In Group A, New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 98 runs in Johor. New Zealand made 221-8 in 50 overs riding on Corey Anderson’s 82. Tim Southee took 5-11 as Zimbabwe were all out for 123 runs in reply.

In Group B, South Africa defeated West Indies by three wickets in Kuala Lumpur. Batting first West Indies scored 222-8 in 50 overs. Kieran Powell and Devon Thomas scored 53 each and Shacaya Thomas made 41 for the West Indies. In reply, Rilee Rossouw top-scored with 58 not out and Roy Adams made unbeaten 26 as South Africa made 223-7 in 43.5 overs.

In Group D, Bangladesh hammered Bermuda by 178 runs in Kuala Lumpur. Bangladesh accumulated 260-8 in 50 overs, with Nasir Hossain scoring 84, Ashiqul Islam making 69 not out and Ashraful Hossain 51. Bermuda were all out for just 82 runs in 26.1 overs.

Nepal will play Australia on Tuesday before facing Namibia two days later. In other matches on Tuesday, Pakistan take on New Zealand; India play South Africa and England will face Bermuda.