Kathmandu: Nepal defeated Afghanistan by one wicket in the final match of the U-19 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Put into bat first after winning the toss at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Dubai, Afghanistan managed to score 123 runs in 35.4 overs, losing all their wickets in the process. In response, Nepal successfully chased the target of 124 runs, albeit with the loss of 9 wickets, in 41.3 overs.
According to National News Agency Nepal, key contributions to Nepal’s victory came from Naren Saud who scored 26 runs, captain Hemant Dhami with 22 runs, and Arjun Kumal who added 21 runs. Other notable performances included Abhishek Tiwari with 13 runs, Akash Tripathi and Roshan Bishwakarma with nine runs each, and Santosh Yadav who contributed seven runs. Additionally, Nepal benefitted from 12 extra runs.
Afghanistan’s bowlers AM Ghajhanfar and Khatir Stanikzai were the primary wicket-takers, each claiming three wickets, while Abdul Aziz and Mahboob Khan secured one wi
cket apiece. In the batting department, Faisal Khan top-scored for Afghanistan with 52 runs, followed by Allah Ghajanfar with 11 runs and Nasir Khan with 10 runs.
In bowling for Nepal, Unish Bikram Singh Thakuri and Santosh Yadav excelled, each taking three wickets, while Hemant Dhami and Abhishek Tiwari took two wickets each. Earlier in the tournament, Nepal had faced defeats against Sri Lanka by 55 runs in their first match and Bangladesh by five wickets in their second match. Similarly, Afghanistan had lost to Bangladesh by 45 runs and to Sri Lanka by 131 runs.
Both teams have been eliminated from the Asia Cup.