Nepal, Malaysia qualify for Youth Asia Cup-2001 finals

October 15, 2001
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Nepal will play Malaysia in the finals of the third Under-19 Youth Asia Cup-2001 cricket tournament to be played in Kathmandu Valley Thursday after the two countries won their semi-final matches Thursday.

Hosts Nepal trounced U.A.E. by 106 runs in front of a supportive home crowd. Nepal scored 209 in 50 overs for six wickets. Another tournament favourite U.A.E. collapsed and were all out for 103 runs in 40.2 overs while chasing a target of 210 runs.

Nepal lost two quick wickets for the addition of only four runs at the beginning of the match. Shakti Gauchan took control of the match with a 39 run third wicket partnership teaming up with Kanishka Chaugai and another 108 run fourth wicket partnership with Basudev Thapa to put Nepal in a commanding position.

U.A.E. were bowled out for 103 runs in 30.2 overs with Lakpa Lama claiming five wickets while conceding 32 runs in 9.2 overs. Shakti Gauchan was top scorer with 53 runs. Gauchan and Lama were declared joint men of the match.

Malaysia recorded a six wicket over Singapore in the second semi-finals. Singapore won the toss and elected to bat but collapsed against good spin bowling and good fielding by Malaysia. Singapore were all out for 67 runs in 32 overs for the loss of nine

wickets.

A foreign player could not bat because he was a substitute player; tournament regulations stipulated only three foreign players can be included in a team; two others had already left for home. Malaysia scored 69 runs for the loss of four wickets in 13.5 to take the match.

Muhammad Ridzuam took four wickets while conceding only six runs in five overs to be declared the man of the match. Gopinath Subramani was top scorer hitting 19 runs off 23 balls.

“The spin bowlers put up a splendid performance as did the fielders. The spinners were on top. Nepal and Malaysia are evenly matched. The outcome of the finals will be decided by who plays better Thursday,” Malaysia team manager C. Sivanandan said.

Qatar won by one wicket against Oman by scoring 188 runs in 45.2 overs in another match while chasing a total of 187 runs all out in 37.4 overs.

In another match, Kuwait defeated Maldives by 282 runs. Kuwait hit the highest score of the tournament by scoring 387 runs for the loss of only six wickets in 40 overs.

Maldives were all out for 105 in 28.1 overs.

Taimour Ashraf scored 153 runs hitting 14 boundaries and seven sixes to record the highest personal score of the tournament to popularize cricket in non test playing nations in Asia. nepalnews.com br Oct.15