ACC U19 Premier Cup: Captain Khanal hit ton as Nepal humble Iran by 274 runs

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 13: Nepal made a flying start in the ACC U19 Premier Cup in Malaysia on Thursday by beating Iran with a comprehensive 274-run victory. 

Captain Dev Khanal’s century helped Nepal score a massive 354 runs in 40.1 overs, losing all their wickets. In response, Iran’s chase fell apart as they were bundled out for 79 runs in 30.5 overs. Only opener and wicketkeeper Amer Khorsand made a significant contribution to Iran’s score with 37 runs that included five sixes and one boundary. 

Nepali bowlers Subash Bhandari and Dipesh Kandel did most of the damage to Iran’s batting lineup, picking up three wickets each. 

Bhandari conceded only six runs and played four maiden overs from his economic 8.5 overs. Kandel played three maiden overs and spent just four runs from his spell of seven overs. Additionally, Hemant Dhami (2-19) and Akash Chand (2-27) also dismissed two Iranian batters.

Captain Khanal became the first player to score two centuries in U19 for Nepal. He cracked his second century off 60 balls that included 12 fours and four boundaries. His first century of 125 was against Kuwait in the ICC U19 World Cup Qualifier held in February. 

Similarly, opener Deepak Bohara (65 off 59 balls) and middle-order batsman Dipak Prasad Dumre (69 off 44 balls) also contributed with their half-century knock. Nepal had a poor start, losing Arjun Kumal for a duck as the first wicket in the second ball and Aakash Tirpathi (3) as the second wicket in the 5th over. 

However, Khanal’s captain’s innings helped steady Nepal’s charge. He paired with opener Bohara to put on 166 runs for the third wicket stand. 

After Khanal departed as the third wicket in 20.1 overs, Bohara followed to the pavilion in 21.4 overs with 185/4 on the board. Dumre then collaborated with Dipesh Kandel (22-ball 29) to share 91 runs for the fifth wicket. The lower-order batsmen Subash Bhandari (18), Hemant Dhami (23) and tail-ender Akash Chand (19) also contributed to Nepal’s big score.

Dadrahman Raeisi and Salman Niazmand led Iran’s bowling onslaught with three wickets each, while Zeid Raeisi and Samaan Sheikhi claimed two Nepali wickets.

Nepal is grouped with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Iran in the group stage. Nepal will next play Bahrain on Sunday. The top three teams from the 16-team tournament will qualify for the Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan.