Kanishka Chaugan helps Nepal to massive 344-run win over Maldives

Nepal set the Youth Asia Cup 2003 alive from the outset with a crushing victory over Maldives in one of two opening day games played in Karachi yesterday.

The tournament was shifted from Singapore to Pakistan due to SARS concerns.

Ten Under-19 Asian teams are playing at seven different grounds and the finalists will qualify for next year's Youth World Cup to be staged in Bangladesh in January-February.

This Asian Cricket Council-sponsored tournament has been organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This year's event has been split into two pools. Pool A is: United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Singapore, Nepal and Qatar while Pool B is: Malaysia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Oman and Thailand.

Kanishka Chaugan - 125 at Karachi Photo © ACC

A total of 23 matches will be played and the league round matches will be played on single league basis. The opening matches on Monday were Nepal vs Maldives at National Stadium, Karachi and Singapore vs Qatar at the Karachi Gymkhana Ground.

Nepali opener Kanishka Chaugan gave his team a great start by scoring a 109-ball 125, including 15 fours and a six, as his side scored 391 for 4 to set his side on the way to a massive 344-run victory over Maldives at the National Stadium in Karachi. Maldives were bundled out for a paltry 47 in 31.3 overs with extras finishing as the top scorer with 13.

Chaugan shared a 138-run first-wicket stand with Yashwant Subedi who hit 63 from 66 balls that included eight fours and a six.

For the second wicket, Chaugan put on 70 runs with Sharad Veswakar (30) while the third wicket produced 99 of which Shakti Gauchan's contribution was 60 from 54 balls with four fours.

Maldives were unable to cope with the Nepali bowlers and wickets were evenly shared between Lakpa Lema (3-5), Shakti Gauchan (2-3), Irfan Ahmed Siddiqui (2-6) and Manjean Shrestha (2-16).

In the other game at the Karachi Gymkhana, Qatar's Qamar Sadiq's all-round performance was not enough as Singapore won their opening match by 40 runs.

Batting first, Singapore collected 249 for 9 in 50 overs with Iftikhar Haider belting four sixes and a four in his rapid 51-ball 65.

Mohammad Athar picked up 3 for 25 while Qamar chipped in with 3 for 38. Allrounder Qamar was in action again when Qatar batted scoring 36. Mohammad Imran finished unbeaten on 44, as Qatar were restricted to 209 for 9.

Qatar's Ronald Josphe stole the bowling honours with 3 for 34 while Rizwan Madakia bagged 2 for 21.

Brief scores:
Nepal vs Maldives: Nepal 391-4 in 50 overs (Kanishka Chaugan 125, Yashwant Subedi 63, Shakti Gauchan 60, Ahmed Hassan 2-73) beat Maldives (47 in 31.3 overs) by 344 runs (Lakpa Lema 3-5).

Singapore vs Qatar: Singapore 249-9 in 50 overs (Iftikhar Haider 65, Athar Khan 3-25, Qamar Sadiq 3-35) beat Qatar (209-9 in 50 overs) by 40 runs. (Mohammad Emran 44 not out, Qamar Sadiq 36, Rizwan Madakia 2-21, Ronald Josphe 3-34).

Tuesday's fixtures are, Kuwait vs Malaysia at Quaid-e-Azam Park (Umpires: Asad Rauf and Islam Khan. Match referee: Munawar Agha); Hong Kong vs Oman at National Stadium (Umpires Nadeem Ghauri, Afzaal Ahmed, Match referee: Taslim Arif).