India crushes Nepal out of U-19 Asia Cup

KATHMANDU, June 26: With a lackluster batting performance, Nepal crashed out of the ACC U-19 Asian Cup losing its last group stage match to India by 81 runs at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday.



Chasing down a revised 173 run-target, the entire Nepali batting line-up crumbled for 91 in just 27.3 overs. With rain briefly delaying the start of the Nepali innings, Nepal, as per D/L method, was supposed to achieve the reduced target in 47 overs.[break]



Earlier, put in to bat first, India managed 176 in 45.2 overs. Rahul BK and Krishna Karki took three wickets apiece to restrict India to a modest total. Likewise, Sagar Pun bagged two wickets, while Avinash Karn and skipper Prithu Baskota took one wicket each.



The Indian innings was largely built around the crucial 64-run partnership between Baba Aparajith (55) and Unmukt Chand (47) for the second wicket. Harmeet Singh and Akashdeep Deependra Nath scored 13 runs each. Besides, no other Indian batsmen could score in double digits. Nepal conceded 17 runs as extras.



Nepal´s run chase suffered early jolts, losing both the openers Subash Khakurel (9) and Pradeep Airee (7) before the fourth over. Nepal continued losing wickets in regular intervals, Naresh Budhayair (5), Sagar Pun (1) and skipper Prithu Baskota (0), with half the batting line removed by the end of the 13th over with just 20 runs on board.



Hasim Ansari (4) was the next to go. Raju Pulami Magar (17) and Rahul BK (12) offered some resistance with a 20-run seventh wicket partnership. Number nine Bhuwan Karki top scored with 24 for Nepal. Avinash Karn was the last man out for duck.



Man-of-the-match Vikas Mishra took four wickets while Sandeep Sharma, Harmeet Singh and Mohsin Sayyed claimed two wickets each.



Both the sides were in a must-win situation in Tuesday´s match in order to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament. With the win, India qualified for the semifinals as runner up from Group A, while Nepal along with Malaysia are out of the tournament. Pakistan has already qualified for the semifinals as group winner.



Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan qualified for the semifinals from group B as winner and runner-up respectively.

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