India recorded a convincing 81-run win over Nepal under the Duckworth Lewis method to qualify for the semifinals of the Under-19 Asia Cup cricket tournament, in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
Slow left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra did the star turn as he picked up four wickets to help his side bundle out Nepal for 91 in reply to India’s 176 all out.
Nepal’s target was revised to 173 in 47 overs after a brief interruption.
Skipper Unmukt Chand and Baba Aparajith were the other major contributors for India, making 47 and 55 respectively, after they were asked to bat by Nepal captain Prithu Baskota at the Bayuemas Oval.
Defending a small total in the group A match, left-arm pacer Mohsin Sayyed and another left-arm spinner, Harmeet Singh, supported Mishra taking two wickets apiece, as India bowled out Nepal in 27.3 overs.
Lower-order batsman Bhuvan Karki, who took three wickets along with Rahul Vishvakarma, top-scored for Nepal with a 29-ball 24 even as the rest failed to come to terms with India’s tight bowling.
Even though they were defending a small total, the Indian bowlers struck frequently to put Nepal under pressure in what was a crucial game for them after the loss to Pakistan on Sunday.
Earlier, barring the duo of Aparajith and Chand who put on 64 runs for the second wicket, none of the Indian batsman could make a substantial contribuition.
In the end however, their efforts proved to be enough as the Nepalese had no answer to the Indian bowlers.
India play Sri Lanka in the second semifinals on Friday, a day after Pakistan take on Afghanistan who prevailed over Bangladesh in a tight game.
