KATHMANDU: Nepali U-19 cricket team, buoyed by defeating India, emphatically demolished Malaysia by 8-wicket to enter into the semi-finals of the ACC U-19 Youth Asia Cup played at the Bayuemas Oval in Pandamaran, Klang, Malaysia, on Tuesday.

Earlier, Nepal had lost to Bangladesh by 2 wickets, defeated defending champion India by 19-run and crushed the hosts to secure their first ever semi-finals berth of the tournament in the history of Nepali cricket.

After winning the toss Nepal invited the hosts to bat first in a damp condition where the match was reduced to 24 overs after rain spoiled the match.

Nepal's leg spin wizard Sandeep Lamichanne ripped the hosts battling line-up with best figure of 5-8 in his unplayable bowling spell. The hosts were skittled to paltry score of 45 runs inside 16 overs.

Malaysian batsman Saeed Mubarak top scored with 20 runs while skipper Birandeep Jagjit Singh made 10 runs.

Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee who earlier had taken four wickets against India today returned to capture two Malaysian scalps with his slow right arm spin bowling. Shahab Alam also chipped in with two wickets.

Once again Nepal's top order failed to deliver with the bat, Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Anil Sah remained not outs on 12 and 17 runs respectively and achieved the target on 5.3 overs with plenty of overs to spare.

Nepal's Sandeep Lamichanne was adjudged man-of-the-match for his magical spell.

Bangladesh, who defeated India by 8 wickets today, topped the group A and will take on Pakistan in the first semi-finals on Thursday where as Nepal will fancy their chance against their arch-rival Afghanistan in other semi-finals at the Kinarara Oval on Friday.

The final will be played at the Kinarara Oval on Sunday.

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