Nepal registered their second consecutive victory in the ICC U-19 World Cup Division 1 Asia Qualifier but were made to sweat yet again chasing a small target in a five-wicket victory over Malaysia. 

Electing to field first at the Singapore Cricket Club in Padang, skipper Sandeep Lamichhane took his second consecutive five-wicket haul as Malaysia were bundled out for just 58 runs. Nepal once again struggled in their chase, losing five wickets before reaching 61 runs in 9.5 overs.

Nepal had gone through a similar chase when they squeezed out Singapore for just 73 runs in the first match on Monday but the team went on to lose six wickets to achieve the target. On Tuesday, they lost opener Sandeep Sunar (six) with just eight runs on the board. Aadil Khan (five) and Dipendra Singh Airee (four) were next to go before as Nepal also lost opener Aasif Sheikh in the eighth over. 

A free-flowing Sheikh hit five boundaries on his way to 23 off 20 balls. After Sheikh’s dismissal, Anil Sah went for a duck, while in-form Pranit Thapa Magar and Rohit Kumar Paudel (four not out) completed the chase. Thapa Magar made 18 not out from 12 balls with a six and a four. 

Hafizuddin picked up 3-21 for Malaysia, while Haiqal Khair and Muhammad Amir had one scalp apiece. Nepal coach Binod Das said a hurry to finish the game early for a better run rate saw them lose a flurry of wickets. “The pitch here (Padang) isn’t that great for stroke making. We tried to finish the game in five or six overs so we took some chances and that didn’t payoff at all,” said Das. 

Nepal will now take on Afghanistan in a crucial match on Wednesday where a victory could determine their fate in the Qualifiers. Das said his team have to look for ways to lift batting woes. “We will try to focus on our problem which has been batting. We have to improve on it before playing against the Afghans,” said Das.

Nepali spinners once again continued to impress and it was particularly Lamichhane who led the attack, a day 

after picking up 5-21 in a four-wicket victory against Singapore. Man-of-the-match Lamichhane returned with figures of 5-17 from 8.5 overs as Singapore barely settled in the game.

Singapore didn’t have a single batsman making runs in double figures. They were reduced to 39-9 in 18.4 overs before an 18-run 10th wicket partnership between Khair (nine) and Hafizuddin (six not out) helped them cross 50-run mark. Another spinner Pawan Sarraf also picked up 3-9 from three overs, while seamer Kishor Mahato and Sandeep Sunar took a wicket each.

In another match of the day, Afghanistan eased to a seven-wicket victory over Singapore after stopping the hosts at 92 all out in 26.1 overs. Afghans reached 93-3 in 17 overs and they currently stay at the top table on net run rate after being tied with Nepal on four points each. The table toppers after the double round robin league will qualify for the 2018 U-19 World Cup to be held in New Zealand.

Summary

Nepal 61-5 in 9.5 overs (A Sheikh 23, PT Magar 18 not out; Hafizuddin 3-21, M Amir 1-15) beat Malaysia 58 in 25.5 overs (Haiqal Khair 9, V Singh 9; S Lamichhane 5-17, P Sarraf 3-9)  by five wickets

Man-of-the-match: S Lamichhane