Sports
Nepal suffer second consecutive defeat in ACC U-19 Asia Cup
The Rhinos will face Afghanistan in their final group-stage match on Tuesday.Sports Bureau
Nepal’s U-19 cricket team suffered their second consecutive defeat in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup, losing to Bangladesh by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday.
Batting first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after losing the toss, Nepal were bowled out for 141 runs in 45.4 overs. Opener Akash Tripathi was the top scorer for Nepal with a steady 43 runs, hitting five boundaries in his 77-ball innings. Wicketkeeper Uttam Thapa Magar and Abishek Tiwari contributed 29 runs each, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered, failing to reach double figures.
Bangladesh’s bowling attack was led by Mohammad Rijan Hossain, Mohammad Al Fahad, and Mohammad Iqbal Hasan Emon, each taking two wickets. Saad Islam Razin, Rafi Uzman Rafi, and Azizul Hakimi Tamim chipped in with one wicket apiece.
In response, Bangladesh chased the target of 142 runs comfortably, reaching 145 for the loss of five wickets in just 28.4 overs. A crucial 90-run partnership between Mohammad Azizul Hakimi Tamim (52 runs) and Jawad Abrar (59 runs) for the second wicket laid the foundation for their win. Though Nepal’s Yuvraj Khatri took four wickets for 23 runs in six overs, his efforts couldn’t save the team from defeat.
Nepal had lost their opening match against Sri Lanka on Friday. The Rhinos will face Afghanistan in their final group-stage match on Tuesday.