Nepal lifted the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Cup cricket tournament for the third successive time defeating Malaysia by seven wickets in the final played at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
With the victory, Nepal qualified for the Youth World Cup 2006 scheduled for February next year in Sri Lanka. It is the fourth occasion Nepal has qualified for the age-group world cup having played it in 2000, 2002 and 2004.
It was an easy victory for Nepal after bowling out the opponents for a paltry 83 runs in 25.5 overs. Nepal completed the target in 25.3 overs losing three wickets in front of the jam-packed crowd waving national flags and cheering every ball.
“We’ve proved we are the best among the emerging nations in the region,” an ecstatic coach Roy Dias said after the victory. “I don’t think you can ask any more from the cricketers and the coach,” Dias who coached the team for all three U-19 title victory added.
Nepal won the event in 2001 at the same venue under Binod Das’ captaincy and defended the title in 2003 in Karachi, Paksitan under Shakti Gauchan. Both time, Malaysia was in the final against Nepal. Nepal also reached the final in 1999 but lost to Bangladesh, who now is a Test-nation.
Vice-captain Paras Khadka hit a six over mid-wicket boundary when three runs were required for victory to prove Nepal’s domination in the match. He scored the highest in the match hitting 21 runs in 22 balls. He partnered Sarad Vesawkar, who scored 152 runs in the tournament, for unbeaten 35 runs. Sarad made 18.
Captain Kaniska Chaugai scored 20 before being bowled by the rolling ball defended by him off Esraffiq Azis while Yashwant Subedi (11) and Gyanendra Malla (6) were out cheaply.
Despite defending a low total, Malaysian bowlers made it difficult for Nepali batsmen to score. Manrick Singh and spinner Azis, who shared the new ball, bowled brilliantly. Azis took two wickets giving away 21 runs in 10 overs.
Earlier, Nepal won the toss and elected to field first. Nepali fast-bowlers utilized the dewy morning conditions to put Malaysians on back foot. Bantu Bataju bowled Malaysian captain Suhan Kumar Algaratnam on the fifth ball of the innings to give home team a great start.
Bantu, bowling the best of him, picked up four other wickets. His 5/28 wrecked Malaysian innings and they went down to 55/7 in 14.2 overs. His new ball partner Amrit Bhattarai too chipped in with two wickets to take his tournament tally to 13 wickets. Bantu was awarded the man of the final.
Spinner Raj Shrestha took two last wickets while Paras took one to end the Malaysian innings in less than two hours. The top scorers for Malaysia were Faris Almas-Lee and Manrick who each made 13 runs. It was the lowest total of the final in the history of the event.
“This is great victory,” captain Kaniska Chaugai said. “It was a laudable performance from the bowlers. Now I look forward of performing well in Sri Lanka next year.”