Nepal eased to a six-wicket victory over the United States of America (USA) to enter the final of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday.

A five-wicket haul from spinner Prem Tamang followed by a gritty unbeaten half century from Yogendra Karki handed Nepal their third consecutive victory that put them in the final with one match against their final opponents Ireland remaining.

Ireland, who ran riot over Uganda with a 158-run victory in another match on Monday, also coasted to their third win in a row. Nepal and Ireland are tied on six points each but the former lead on better run rate. The two teams meet each other on Wednesday before heading into Thursday’s winner takes it all final.

The tournament offers only one spot in 2015 ICC U-19 World Cup to be hosted by Bangladesh. The qualifying team will join Afghanistan, Namibia, Canada, Fiji and Scotland along with 10 Test playing nations in World Cup.

In the match at Kinrara Oval, Nepal squeezed out USA for 109 runs in 46 overs after the match had to be reduced to 48 overs due to bad weather.

USA were the first team in the tournament to reach triple figures against Nepal who had bundled out Papua New Guinea (48 runs) and Uganda (71 runs) below 100. Nepal reached 114-4 in just 17.5 overs. Nepal lost new opener Shankar Rana, who replaced Sandeep Sunar, for 12 before Sunil Dhamala (17) and Karki shared 39 runs for the second wicket. However, Nepal lost Dhamala and explosive all rounder Dipendra Airee (five) in a space of six runs before skipper Raju Rijal (six) headed back to pavilion leaving Nepal at 73-4 in 12.6 overs.

But Karki went on to play his shots and forged an unbeaten 41-run partnership with Saurav Khanal sailing the team easily home. Karki completed his half century with a boundary off Vivek Narayan in the 17th over before Khanal ended the game with a six off Guranshu Sharma in the next.  Karki made 53 not out from 46 balls with 11 fours and Khanal’s 12-ball 16 also included two hits to the fence. Mohak Buch took two wickets for US.

Earlier, USA innings revolved around their opener Sagar Patel who scored a painstaking 44 off 105 balls and watched wickets tumbling from the other end. His 21-run partnership with Kushal Ganji (seven) was the only bright spot for the USA. Tamang broke Patel’s resistance in the 37th over as he was out as eighth US wicket to fall.

Patel stroked three boundaries and a six. Tohidul Islam (14) and Gaurav Patanker (11) were the only remaining American batsmen to make runs in double figures. Man-of-the-match Tamang finished with the figures of 5-31 from 10 overs, while Aarif Sheikh took 2-9 from 10 overs including four maiden. Sushil Kandel and Airee also had one scalp apiece.

At the Royal Selangor Club, the Irish recovered from 97-5 to post 255-8 following a century stand between Lorcan Tucker (90) and Aaron Gillespie (47). Rory Anders then picked up four wickets as Uganda were dismissed for a paltry 97 in 23.5 overs.