Kathmandu: Hosts Nepal registered second victory in a row in the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifiers with a thumping eight wicket victory over Oman at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground on Monday. 

Opting to bowl first, Nepal bundled out the visitors for 117 runs in 38 overs after Yuvraj Khatri’s heroics with the ball as the home team danced their way to victory in 14.3 overs losing two wickets. 

Nepal had edged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by five runs on D/L method in their opening game on Sunday in the five-team group that sends table topper to the 2026 World Cup finals. 

Afghanistan, who edged Hong Kong by eight wickets at the Lower Mulpani Ground for second victory in a row, are on top of the standings with equal four points as of Nepal. They hold superiority in the points table on net run rates. UAE, Hong Kong and Oman are yet to open accounts in the points table. Oman have played two games while Hong Kong and UAE have played one match each.    

Openers duo Shahil Patel and Niraj Kumar Yadav gave a flying start to the home team’s run chase before being dismissed near the half century mark. Niraj was the first Nepali batter to be dismissed scoring 46 off 31 balls studded with five boundaries and two sixes. He shared an 85-run stand for the first wicket before Varshieth Saai caught him in Saumya Bhavin delivery in the 10th over. 

Shahil contributed 45 runs-42 balls comprising three fours and a six. Saumya Bhavin made him caught by Prathiesh Hema in the 14th over as the score read 106-2. Naren Bhatta remained unbeaten on 12 runs and Santosh Yadav on 10 runs. 

Saumya Bhavin grabbed both wickets of Nepal in his six-over bowling conceding 31 runs. 

Earlier put to bat first, Oman’s innings was largely built on a half century by Jeet Vrajesh Shah. He scored 52 off 78 balls that included six hits to the fences. He was stumped by  Dilsad Ali in a Yuvraj Khatri delivery.  Opener Siddarth Sowmya Shankar (16 runs) and Prathiesh Hema Ramesh (10 runs) were the only other Oman batters to touch double digit figures. 

Leg spinner Yuvraj was the pick of Nepal’s bowling claiming five wickets. He conceded 15 runs in his seven-over spell with two maiden overs. Santosh Yadav grabbed two wickets.   

Nepal will vie against Hong Kong on Wednesday and Afghanistan will lock horns against UAE.