KATHMANDU, Nov 17: Man of the match Mujeeb Zadran’s second 6-wicket-haul of the tournament has propelled Afghanistan to the final of the ACC U-19 Asia Cup, 2017 at Kinrara Oval, Malaysia. Zadran rattled Nepal batting by picking up first four wickets of the Nepal batting innings which included skipper Dipendra Singh Airee. Ramanullah Gurbaz did the honors by registering a fifty on his way to an Afghanistan win by seven wickets.
Rain intervened at the later stage of the Afghani chase as Gurbaz scored a dominant not out 71 runs including nine fours and two sixes. Kamal Singh Airee picked up the Afg wicket of Ibrahim Zadran for three runs. Spin duo Sandeep Lamichhane and Pawan Sarraf picked up one wicket each in their respective spells. Sandeep Lamichhane opened the bowling for Nepal. Afghanistan completed the chase in 20.3 overs as Darwish Rasooli hammered 12 runs from just four deliveries with two sixes.
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. Nepal batsmen had no answer to Mujeeb’s variations and change of pace as they succumbed to 4-41 in 12th over, all of them falling to the same bowler. Anil Kumar Sah stood tall playing classic strokes all around the ground despite Nepal kept losing wickets at the other end. Anil was the only batsmen to score a fifty and a double-digit score for Nepal which included seven fours and one six. Pawan Sarraf was next highest scorer with eight runs to his name. Mujeeb finished with 6-wicket-haul aided by Nepal’s poor running between the wickets resulting on two run-outs. Qaid Ahmad Kamawal picked up remaining two wickets. Nepal was all out for 103 runs in 28the over.
Afghanistan advanced to the final to face Pakistan on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh yesterday to book their place.
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