By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Nepal came one step closer to defend its Plate Championship title of the of ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Tuesday with a thrilling four-run victory over Namibia in the semi-finals at the Johor Cricket Academy here.
Nepal set a target of 144 runs before the Namibians after the match has been reduced to 34 overs because of rain early in the day.
Chasing 144 runs, Namibia almost got there with Raymond van Schoor (48) and Louis van der Westhuizen (33) doing most of the good work.
However, Nepal captain Paras Khadka’s all-round performance saw the defending champions through as after his stint with the bat scoring valuable 44 runs earlier in the day, he picked up two crucial wickets with the ball to built the pressure on the Namibians.
Raj Shreestha then came to Nepal’s rescue as he broke a crucial 35-run partnership between van Schoor and Keady Strauss in the dying moments of the game. With 16 runs needed off eight balls, the Namibian lower order was not quite up to the task losing by four runs.
Nepal will take on the winner of the West Indies and Papua New Guinea, who play in the other semi-final Wednesday at MPTI, Johor in the Plate Championship final at Bayuemas in Kuala Lumpur Saturday.
In the other game of the day, Zimbabwe exacted revenge on Malaysia for a shock defeat earlier in the tournament, beating the host by 44 runs in the Plate Championship play-off semi-final.
Brief Scores:
Plate Championship Semi-Final 1:
Nepal beat Namibia by four runs
Nepal 143-8, 34 overs (Paras Khadka 44; Sean Silver 3-20, Keady Strauss 2-25)
Namibia 139-9, 34 overs (Raymond van Schoor 48, Louis van der Westhuizen 33; Raj Shrestha 2-23, Paras Khadka 2-29)
Plate Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1:
Zimbabwe beat Malaysia by 44 runs
Zimbabwe 186-6, 34 overs (Daniel Landman 45 not out, Peter Moor 37, Solomon Mire 36; Muhamad Nik Azril 2-23)
Malaysia 142 all out, 28.5 overs (Aminudin Ramly 70; Edzai Jaure 3-39, Daniel Landman 2-7, Kyle Jarvis 2-28, Stewart Matsika 2-30)