Nepal clinched a thrilling victory against Afghanistan in their final match of the ongoing U-19 Asia Cup in the UAE. Chasing a target of 124 runs set by Afghanistan, Nepal reached the target in 41.3 overs losing 9 wickets.
Naren Saud top-scored for Nepal with 26 runs, while Arjun Kumal contributed 21. Hemant Dhami remained unbeaten on 22 runs, guiding Nepal to victory. Other contributions came from Abhishek Tiwari (13), Aakash Tripathi (9), Roshan Bishwakarma (9), and Santosh Yadav (7).
Nepal was in a precarious position at 84/8, but a crucial 31-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Hemant Dhami and Naren Saud sealed the win for Nepal. Their calm and composed batting rescued the team and ensured the victory.
Earlier, Afghanistan, opting to bat first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 123 in 35.4 overs. Faisal Shinozada
scored a fighting 52 for Afghanistan, but the other batters struggled to make an impact.
In the bowling department, Nepal’s Uunis Thakuri and Santosh Yadav claimed three wickets each, while Abhishek Tiwari and captain Hemant Dhami took two wickets apiece.
Despite earlier losses to Sri Lanka by 55 runs and Bangladesh by 5 wickets, this victory against Afghanistan showcased Nepal’s resilience and fighting spirit in the tournament.
