KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Bashant Regmi’s brilliant bowling performance helped Nepal to restrict its arch rival Afghanistan to 169 for nine in 50 overs in the opening match of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Emerging Teams Cup in Singapore, on Saturday.
Regmi, who gave a fine bowling performance in today’s match, grabbed five wickets conceding just 31 runs in his 10 overs spell.[break]
Earlier, Nepal won the toss and elected to field first against Afghanistan at Padang cricket ground. Asghar Stanikzao top scored with 33 runs for Afghanistan. Likewise, opener Nawroz Mangal scored 31 runs whereas Gulbadin Naib made unbeaten 30 runs.
Other Nepali bowlers Avinash Karna, Chandra Saud and Sagar Pun grabbed a wicket each.
Nepal now need to make 170 runs to win the match in 50 overs.
Nepal, which is preparing for the upcoming World T20 Qualifiers and Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, is expected to give the best exposure to the national side ahead of the two bigger tournaments.
Nepal and Afghanistan have met five times in the past in the 50-over format. Nepal had defeated Afghanistan in the ACC Trophy Elite 2004, which marked Afghanistan´s first international participation in cricket. Since then, Afghanistan has defeated Nepal in all their four meetings. Afghanistan, which defeated Nepal in the World Cricket League Division 5 held in Jersey in 2008, has made great progress in international cricket and has already achieved ODI status.
It has already played the World T20 Cup twice -- in 2010 and 2012 -- and is on the verge of qualifying for the 50-over World Cup from its World Cricket League Championship group.
Nepal, which recently won the World Cricket League Division 3, is also aiming to secure World Cup qualification.
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