Sports
ACC U-19 Eastern Region: Nepal set sights on Bhutan scalp
Nepal coach Binod Das wants his side to build on Monday’s performance with Thailand as the title favourites take on Bhutan in their second Group ‘A’ match of the ACC U-19 Eastern Region cricket tournament at Kinrara Oval, Malaysia on Wednesday.Nepal coach Binod Das wants his side to build on Monday’s performance with Thailand as the title favourites take on Bhutan in their second Group ‘A’ match of the ACC U-19 Eastern Region cricket tournament at Kinrara Oval, Malaysia on Wednesday.
Nepal had got off to a brilliant start in the tournament after they crushed Thailand by 255 runs thanks to the collective batting performance and leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane’s seven-wicket haul. Bhutan, considered the tournament minnows, were crushed by nine wickets by Singapore on Monday.
“Our top order batsmen should plan to contribute more than 20 runs and then try to convert them into big scores. We had two batsmen scoring half centuries in the first game and we need to repeat that performance, “said Das referring to half centuries from Anil Sah (91) and Pranit Thapa Magar (50) that laid the foundation for a 281-run total against Thailand.
Das added Nepal will be focused more on their own game. “We want to see Bhutan giving us a tough fight,” said Das. “We want to improve in every other game and we are not thinking about anything else. We just want to register victory against Bhutan and focus on winning the title and qualify for the Asia Cup.”
The winners of the tournament will qualify for November’s ACC U-19 Asia Cup which will also be hosted by Malaysia. Newly appointed U-19 skipper Dipendra Singh Airee wanted to look beyond Bhutan game.
“We are taking this tournament as a preparation for the Asia Cup. We have to look forward to the future from the point where we are right now. We have to return as champions to play the Asia Cup. We are totaly on the dark of how Bhutan play but have belief in our game. If we play to our potential, we can win every match in this tournament,” said Airee.
Nepal will take Singapore in their last league match on Thursday. Singapore currently lead the Group ‘A’ table with four points after beating Thailand by 67 runs for their second consecutive victory. Hong Kong and Malaysia have won both their first two Group ‘B’ matches and the former lead the table on better net run-rate.