Nepal win after Uganda's batting fails again

Nepal 192-9 (50 overs, G.Malla 64); Uganda 132 (44.3 overs). Nepal won by 60 runs.

Uganda's batting, which has proved their Achilles heel throughout the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup, again misfired at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium on Tuesday as they subsided to defeat against Nepal.

Chasing a modest 193 for victory, the Africans could only muster 132 all out in 44.3 overs in their Plate Championship quarter-final.

It followed up their previous efforts of 74 (Pakistan), 137 (New Zealand) and 84 (Bangladesh) and means that in four matches their average total is just 107.

Their latest defeat means Uganda will now face Scotland in the Plate Championship play-off semi-final on Friday while Nepal will play South Africa in the Plate Championship semi-final on Thursday.

Nepal adopted a high-risk strategy of batting first despite the fact no other team had done that after winning the toss at the venue throughout the competition so far.

It looked to be a costly gamble too as they slipped to 85-5 before Gayanendra Malla (64) and Basant Regmi (42 not out) hauled them back into contention

The duo added 48 for the sixth wicket and with Regmi then finding useful allies in the lower order in the shape of Bantu Bataju (11) and Raj Shrestha (11), the Nepalese were left with something to bowl at as they finished with 192-9.

Charles Waiswa (2-31) picked up the early wickets of Chaugai (6) and Sharad Vesawkar (1) and with Davis Arinaitwe (2-17) dismissing Mahesh Chhetri (17) and Paras Khadka (0), Nepal were in a heap of trouble at 52-4 before they later rallied.

Malla's innings was a patient one, spanning 138 minutes, during which time he faced 122 balls and hit seven fours.

Regmi was equally patient early on although he opened out later on as the overs ran out and ended up facing 61 balls in 100 minutes at the crease, hitting four fours.

Arinaitwe was a model of economy for Uganda as he completed his full ten over allocation while the other wicket-takers were Ronald Semanda (2-47) and Raymond Otim (3-20).

When they batted, Uganda made their best start of the tournament as captain Hamza Almuzahim (24) and Arthur Kyobe (16) added 56 for the first wicket but once they were separated the by-now familiar batting collapse began and they slipped to 65-4.

Jimmy Okello (18) and Semanda (23) staged a mini-recovery as they added 31 but from 96-4 they slumped again and were unable to deal with the pressure exerted by the Nepal bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Shrestha, who bowled eight overs to take 1-5.

Wicketkeeper Chhetri took five catches behind the stumps to complete a very satisfactory day for Nepal.

Afterwards Nepal coach Roy Dais said: "I know the strengths of my team and they do find it difficult (chasing) under pressure as they showed against England and Zimbabwe.

"We did not want to take any chances and, as the wicket was turning and the ball was not coming onto the bat, it suited us later on as spin decided the match.

"Malla played a very good knock and it came after I gave him some earache after getting out in a silly way earlier in the tournament.

"And although we lost wickets at the start I knew the most important thing was for us to bat our 50 overs and if we did that we would be okay."

Nepal now face South Africa in the Plate Championship semi-finals and both sides will know that Nepal beat their more illustrious opponents in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup two years ago.

"We are the underdogs and they will be the side under pressure," said Dias. "But it is all about who plays best in the day."