Nepal clinches thrilling victory over Afghanistan in U19 Asia Cup

In a dramatic showdown at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, Nepal Under-19s secured a nail-biting one-wicket win over Afghanistan in the 10th match of the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan struggled against Nepal's disciplined bowling attack. Despite Faisal Shinozada's valiant effort of 52 runs, no other batter could form a significant partnership. Afghanistan was bundled out for a modest 123 in 35.4 overs.

Santosh Yadav and Unish Singh were the stars with the ball, claiming three wickets each and dismantling the Afghan lineup.

Chasing a modest target, Nepal endured a shaky start, losing key wickets early and finding themselves at 31/3. Contributions from Aakash Tripathi and Mayan Yadav were brief, putting pressure on the middle order. However, Hemant Dhami's unbeaten 22 and a crucial 26 from Narendra Saud steadied the innings.

Afghanistan's bowlers, led by AM Ghazanfar with figures of 3/36, kept the game alive, but Nepal showed resilience, inching towards the target. In the 42nd over, they finally crossed the finish line at 124/9, securing a thrilling victory with 51 balls to spare.