Nepal makes history
Feb 12th, 2009 by Pratichya Dulal
Kathmandu, February 12, NS report –
Nepal made history by winning the last edition of the ACC U-17 Elite Cup, with a ten wickets victory over Malaysia on Thursday. The victory completed Nepal’s cabinet of age group trophies. Until now Nepali colts had won all other age group trophies expect the U-17. Nepal has won the U-19 tournament four times (2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007) while they were crowned the U-15 champions twice, in 2005 and 2006.
Nepal chased the target of 125 runs in 23.3 runs as the openers Aakash Singh Pariyar and Sagar Pun remained on 53 and 65 not out respectively, the highest score in the tournament for each. Ahmad Zahid Adnan got the hammering from the home team, conceding 22 runs from just two overs.
Nepal started the chase in a style with both the batsmen blazing away from the very first over.
Earlier, skipper Prithu Baskota claimed three wickets to wreck Malaysia’s middle order. He gave away 18 runs in his spell of eight overs. It was Bhuwan Karki who got Nepal on track breaking the tourist’s first wicket partnership of 34 runs in the 11th over. In the next over, Pradeep Airee got the danger man Zubair Asyrafe Norazmi (31). Malaysia’s second highest partnership of 28 runs for third wicket was cut short by Baskota in the 20th over. Thereafter, the Malaysian inning simply caved in, the whole team out for 124 in the 37.1 overs.
“As this was our last chance to bag the U-17 trophy, we had worked hard for this tournament,” Nepal coach Roy Dias said after his team’s resounding victory. “I am happy that I have been able to add U-17 to our list of accomplishment.”
Nepal had to wait for a long time to clinch the U-17 trophy. They have been regular participants at this age group since 2000. But the inclusion of test playing nations made it difficult for Nepal to make their presence felt, let alone win the tournament. The last time Nepal came close to capturing the tournament was in Malaysia 2005 when they had reached the semi-final. Unfortunately, the tournament was abandoned owing to a forest fire near the venue.
Pun was awarded the man-of-the-match while Pariyar was adjudicated the best Nepali batsmen.
Cricket Association of Nepal and Praphula SJB Rana announced a cash prize of Rs 2,40,000 and 10,000 respectively for the victorious team.
