Nepal end campaign without a win

KATHMANDU, AUG 22 -
Nepal’s ACC Emerging Teams Cup campaign ended without a win following a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan U-23 at The Padang Ground in Singapore on Wednesday.

The senior Nepali team failed to emulate their U-19 fellows who pulled off a coup against Pakistan by 30 runs at the 2002 Youth Asia Cup in New Zealand.

Nepal’s batting misery continued unabated as they were restricted to a paltry 156 in the allotted 50 overs.

The total would have been much worse had it not been for Subash Khakurel, who braved tight Pakistani bowling attack to make 78 runs. Despite finishing the tournament winless, captain Paras Khadka put on a brave face, summing up the tournament as “a good exposure” for his team.

“They [Pakistan] totally outplayed us today. However, this tournament was a good exposure for us,” Khadka said. “Playing against U-23 sides of two Test playing nations was an eye opener before the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier.”

Defending the modest target, Nepal’s bowling lost its usual edge as Pakistan chased down the required 157 runs in 33.1 overs for the loss of one wicket.

Opener Babar Azam made light work of Nepal’s bowling, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 118 balls which included 11 boundaries.

Basanta Regmi, who has been the pick of the bowler for Nepal in the tournament, took the only wicket. He broke the 66-run opening partnership as he had Azeem Ghumman (15) caught by Sagar Pun in the 15th over. The left-arm spinner finished the tournament with nine wickets.

But Babar and Hammad Azam guided Pakistan home which also ensured their place in the semi-finals as runners-up to Group A winners India.

Earlier, put in to bat, Khakurel remained glued to the crease even as wickets tumbled regularly at the other end. He hit a six and nine boundaries to get the scoreboard ticking.

Nepal failed to put on a good partnership and were unable to cross the 200-run mark in the tournament. Binod Bhandari and Regmi, who each chipped in 16 runs, were the second highest scorers.

Nepal had lost the first match against One-day nation Afghanistan by three runs, followed by 84-run defeat to India U-23. The Nepal team are returning on Friday.

In the other match, Sri Lanka U-23 booked their place in the last four from Group B with a 13-run victory over hosts Singapore .

Scoreboard

Pakistan Under-23s won by 9 wickets (with 101 balls remaining)

Nepal innings

S Khakurel† c B Azam b Md Nawaz 78 (127)

A Mandal c A Ghumman b B Bhatti    5 (22)

G Malla lbw b Hammad Azam    10 (10)

P Khadka* lbw b Usman Qadir    1 (3)

B Bhandari c Md Nawaz b B Azam    16 (40)

S Vesawkar run out (B Azam)    8 (25)

Sagar Pun st †Md Rizwan b R Hasan    5 (5)

B Regmi not out    16 (43)

S Gauchan c A Ghumman b U Qadir    2 (6)

C Sawad c sub (Md Waqas) b R Hasan    1 (18)

A Karn st †Md Rizwan b R Hasan    0 (2)

Extras: (b 2, lb 4, w 7, nb 1)    14

Total: (50 overs)    156 all out

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-54, 3-55, 4-88,

5-114, 6-119, 7-140, 8-144, 9-155, 10-156

Bowling: Ehsan Adil 3-0-16-0, Bilawal Bhatti 9-0-27-1, Raza Hasan 10-2-21-3, Usman Qadir 10-0-27-2, Hammad Azam 2-0-16-1, Mohammad Nawaz 10-1-22-1, Babar Azam

6-0-21-1

Pakistan Under-23s innings

Babar Azam not out    100 (118)

A Ghumman c Sagar Pun b Regmi    15(35)

Hammad Azam* not out    41 (46)

Extras: (w 3)    3

Total: (33.1 overs)    159/1

Fall of wickets: 1-66

Bowling: A Karn 5-0-35-0, C Sawad 4-0-23-0, B Regmi 9-1-34-1, S Gauchan 7.1-1-31-0, Sagar Pun 6-0-28-0, S Vesawkar 2-0-8-0

Toss: Pakistan Under-23s, who chose to field

Player of the match: Babar Azam

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