KATHMANDU, AUG 19 –
Nepal hammered Bahrain by 186 runs to inch closer to the ACC U-16 Premier League title at the Selangor Turf Cub in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday.
The fourth consecutive victory consolidated Nepal’s position atop the league table with eight points from four matches, one ahead of Malaysia. The hosts, who defeated Singapore by four wickets, have seven points with one match washed out due to rain. Nepal and Malaysia meet on Wednesday with the winners assured of the title.
Put in to bat, Nepal rode on an enterprising half century from Pranit Thapa to post 233-8 in 40 overs. A collective effort from the bowlers helped Nepal bundle out Bahrain for just 47 runs in 24.4 overs. The 13-year old spinner Anil Kharel once again impressed with the ball picking up 3-8 from five overs.
After Rijan Dhakal gave Nepal an early breakthrough, Ashish Pokharel picked up the wickets of Rakshit Rupalla (six) and Abdul Ahad (seven) to reduce Bahrain to 23-3. The scores soon read 32-8 after Kharel took three wickets with Jitendra Singh effecting a run out and Pawan Sharraf removing another batsman.
Number 4 batsman Bharat Srinivasan tried to avoid a certain collapse sharing 15 runs for the ninth wicket with Lilo Jose. But, after skipper Sumit Maharjan got rid of the former, Bahrain innings came to a grinding halt. Singh claimed the final wicket. Srinivasan (21 off 57) was the only Bahrain batsman to make runs in double figures hitting two fours and a six.
Earlier, Nepal got off to a slow start with Sushant Singh and Mohammad Asif (eight) adding 35 runs for the first wicket. Sushant was dismissed for 29 off 37 with four boundaries as Nepal put up 50 runs on the board.
Rabi Chand and Rabindra Jung Shahi (23) anchored the Nepali innings with a 61-run partnership until the team lost three quick wickets for just 10 runs.
Rabi was first to go for 33 off 43 after hitting four boundaries and he was followed by the dismissal of skipper Maharjan (three) and Shahi. Jitendra Singh (five) also had a brief stay as Nepal slumped to 143-6. Thapa assured Nepal put a decent total on the board adding 57 runs for the seventh wicket with Sharraf (20).
Thapa remained unbeaten on 70 runs from 60 deliveries which included seven fours and a six. Rakshit Puppalla picked up 2-55 for Bahrain. In another match, Oman routed Thailand by 176 runs.
Posted on: 2014-08-19 09:10
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