KATHMANDU: Nepal suffered a humiliating 141 runs defeat to Afghanistan during ICC Asia U-19s World Cup Qualifier played at the Singapore Cricket Club in Padang on Thursday.

Tournament favourite Afghanistan's seamers exploited Nepali fragile batting line up and bowled them out cheaply for 49 runs. Nepal were chasing 191 runs for victory in their allotted 50 overs.

In reply, Nepal's disarray batting continued as they managed to muster 49 runs in 26th over suffering 141 runs loss to the favourite.

Nepali batsmen wobbled to a quality bowling as they failed to handle Afghanistan's fast bowlers pace and bounce in a crucial encounter. Nepali opening batsmen again failed to provide the opening stand the team was looking for.

However, they petered out in cheap fashion, at one stage they were reeling at 19-6 in just 10th over. Pawan Sarraf top scored for Nepal with 26 runs off 52 balls with 3 hits to the fence.

None of the batsmen managed to score double digits except Pawan Sarraf's resistance. Three Nepali batsmen were out for golden duck as Afghanistan fast bowlers Mujeeb and Naveen-ul-Haq took 4 wickets each.

Naveen-ul-Haq hat-trick triggered Nepal's innings collapse. He dismissed Dipendra Singh Airee for just 4 runs, Anil Sah and Pranit Kumar Thapa for nought.

Earlier, After winning the toss, Nepal elected to field first, hoping to take advantage of early moisture on the pitch, however, Nepali bowlers failed to hit the right line and length as Afghani batsmen scored at will.

Afghanistan opening batsman combined for 75 runs for the first wicket which set them a platform to post a challenging total to the Nepali batsmen.

Ibraham Zadran, top scored for Afghanistan, 43 runs off just 41 deliveries with 5 fours and a towering six over long on boundary. Naveed Obaid also hit 33 runs for Afghanistan as Nepali bowlers failed to take wicket at regular interval.

Nepal's Sandeep Lamichanne who had bagged 10 wickets in two previous encounters with five wickets haul each failed to waive magic to Afghani batsmen as they handled his variations with caution.

Shahab Alam was pick of Nepali bowlers with 3 scalps. Lamichanne and Sarraf took two wickets each.

Nepal are pitted against the hosts Singapore, Malaysia, and Afghanistan in the group being played under double round robin format.

The winner of the group will advance to the U-19s World Cup in New Zealand next year.

Meanwhile, Nepal's head coach Binod Das need to shift his attention to resurrecting bating of Nepal if there are to advance from this group. Nepal traditionally has been a formidable bowling and fielding side.

Nepal will take on the hosts tomorrow at the Indian Association Ground.