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Bangladesh v Nepal, Asia Youth Cup, 1998-99 (Final)
Zahid Newaz - 11 July 1999

Bangladesh retained the title of the Youth Asia Cup Cricket with unbeaten record crushing new face Nepal by 6 wickets in the final at the Kallang Oval ground in Singapore Sunday.

As finalists of the Asian Youth meet, both Bangladesh and Nepal earned the right to play in the 16-team final round of the Under-19 World Cup Cricket, comprising nine test playing and seven associate member countries, to be held in Sri Lanka next January.

Wicket keeper Golam Mortuza of Bangladesh was adjudged man of the final for his brilliant performance behind the wicket with three stumping and one catch.

In the day's final, coin-favoured Nepal batted first to be all out for fragile 125 runs in 39.2 overs.

Two spinners Imran Rahim Lalu and Fahim Muntasir Sumit played key role to restrict the Nepalese batsmen sharing five wickets.

Lalu was the most successful claiming three wickets for 23 runs in 9 overs while skipper Sumit captured two wickets for 23 runs in 8 overs.

Another notable wicket taker was new ball bowler Bikash Das who claimed two for 28 runs in 8 overs with three maidens while Hannan Sarker took one wicket for 22 runs in 4.2 overs.

Nepalese opener U Saru was the top scorer of his side making 42 runs off 104 balls before falling the first stumping victim of Mortuza off Lalu while one down B Dali added 16 runs off 28 deliveries.

A 44-run knock by Hannan Sarker off 60 balls helped Bangladesh to reach the target of 126 runs for the loss of four wickets in 29.1 overs. He shared 52 runs with Sadik Hasan Shaon in the second wicket stand.

Opener Shaon made second team highest 28 runs facing 42 balls with three boundaries.

MH Mridul scored an unbeaten 18 runs off 25 deliveries with two hits across the rope while another opener Imran Ahmed added 16 runs off 21 balls that included three boundaries.

P Lunia captured two wickets for 27 runs in 9 overs while BK Das also took two wickets for 31 runs in 8 overs.