Nepal register fourth consecutive win, crush Ireland by 8 wickets in ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier
Ireland: 184/7 in 50.0 overs
Nepal: 190/2 in 42.5 overs
KATHMANDU: Nepal registered their fourth consecutive win in the ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier, defeating Ireland by eight wickets at Kinrara Oval Stadium, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Batting first, Ireland posted a target of 185 runs to Nepal. In response, Nepal made 190/2 to seal the victory in 42.5 overs with 43 balls remaining.
Openers Sunil Dhamala and Sandip Sunar both stayed on the crease for 39.1 overs and played a partnership of 170 runs to build the foundation for Nepal's impressive victory.
Prem Tamang was the pick of the Nepali bowlers with the figures of 4-35 runs in his 10-over spell.
Tamang, who took five wickets against the USA and two against Uganda, is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
Lalit Rajbanshi claimed two wickets and Sushil Kandel one.
Sunar made 85 runs off 119, hitting seven fours and one six. Dhamala added 75 off 121, which included three fours and three sixes.
"Sunil (Dhamala) and I discussed that we must stick around till the end and deal in singles or doubles," said Sunar of the partnership.
Skipper Raju Rijal contributed unbeaten 16 runs and Yogendra Singh Karki added four to Nepal.
It was last match of the five-team league. Both Nepal and Ireland had already qualified for the final, scheduled for tomorrow, before today's results.
With today's win, Nepal top the table with eight points, while Ireland follow them with six points from three wins and a loss.
Moreover, the winners of the final showdown would earn the berth for next year’s ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup to be held in Bangladesh.
Earlier, winning toss, Ireland chose to bat. Nepal restricted them to 184/7 in allotted 50 overs with wonderful performance from the bowlers.
Aaron Gillespie topscored for Ireland. He made unbeaten 58 runs off 91. Opener Jack Tector made 46 off 53 while his partner Andrew Austin could contribute 13 only. Gary McClintock added 25 off and Tom Stanton 30 off 45.
In another match played today, the United States of America defeated Papua New Guinea by five wickets.
Points Table
Team
Played
Won
Lost
Tied
NR
Points
NRR
Nepal
4
4
8
2.898
Ireland
4
3
1
6
2.059
USA
4
2
2
4
-1.054
Uganda
4
1
3
2
-1.365
PNG
4
4
-2.761
Source: ICC
The USA and Uganda will play at Royal Selangor Club tomorrow in the third/fourth position play-off.
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