Kathmandu, Oct 19: Nepal registered a six wicket win over the United States of America (USA) in a match played today under the ICC U-19 Qualifier. This is Nepal’s third consecutive victory.

            Nepal, who send USA to bat first after winning the toss at the Kinrara Oval ground in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hit the victory target of 109 runs in 17.5 overs. This win keeps alive Nepal’s hope of winning the qualifier.

            Nepal had defeated Papua New Guinea by nine wickets in its first game of the qualifier round while posting a 171-run victory over Uganda in the second match. The third victory over US puts Nepal at the top of the league tally with six points.

            Nepal made 114 runs in 17.5 overs at the loss of four wickets. Nepali batsman Saurabh Khanal hit a six taking the runs to 114 when Nepal needed just one run to clinch the match.

            Prior to this, the US, which batted first, made 109 runs in 46 overs at the loss of all its wickets. Although the US had made 109 runs, Nepal had been given the same target according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

            The 50-overs game was reduced to 48-overs due to bad weather. The game had to be postponed for some time due to the weather when the US were playing at 48 overs.

            Yogendra Singh Karki contributed the highest number of runs for Nepal’s victory. He made 53 runs including 11 fours in 46 balls not-out. Similarly, Sunil Dhamala made 17 runs, Saurabh Khanal 16, Shankar Rana 12, captain Raju Rijal 6 and Dipendra Airi 5 runs.

            Sagar Patel made the highest number runs for the US. He made 44 runs, including three fours and a six, followed by Tohidul Islam who made 14 runs and Gaurav Patankar 11 runs. Other players could not make double digit runs.

            Prem Tamang of Nepal alone hauled five US wickets, Aarif Shekh two wickets and Sushil Kandel and Deependra Singh Airi one wicket each.

Nepal will be selected to play in the ICC U-19 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh next year if it wins over Ireland in its last match on Wednesday.