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Kathmandu, Nepal, has defeated Iran by 274 runs in the first match of the ACC Men's U19 Premier Cup 2023 underway in Malaysia today.

Chasing the 354 runs target posted by Nepal, Iran was restricted to only 79 runs in 30.5 overs, losing all wickets. For Iran, Amer Khorsand smashed the record with 37 runs off 22 balls. His scores included five sixes and one four. Similarly, Saber Ebrahimipour remained unbeaten at 11 off 43 with one four. However, other players did not have double-digit scores.

For Nepal, Dipesh Kandel and Subas Bhandari took three wickets each. Similarly, Hemanta Joshi and Aakash Chand bagged two each. Losing and batting first, Nepal made 353 runs in 40.1 overs at the loss of all wickets. For the winning country, Captain Dev Khanal scored a century, and Dipak Bohara and Dipak Prasad Dumre scored a half century each. Khanal, who came to the crease at number three, contributed 100 runs off 50 balls. His score included 12 boundaries and four sixes. Bohara hit 65 off 59 with four boundaries and two sixes. Similarly, Dumre, who batted at number five, made 69 off 44. Likewise, Kandel hit 29, Hemanta Dhami 23, Aakash Chand 19, and Subhash Bhandari 18.

On the bowling side for Iran, Dadrahman Raeisi and Salman Niazmand took three wickets each. Likewise, Sheikhi and Zeid Raeisi claimed two each. Now, Nepal is taking on Bahrain on October 15 in its second match. The top three winning teams will qualify for the U19 Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan in December.

Various 16 associate teams have participated in the ACC Men's U19 Premier Cup 2023. The tournament has been divided into four groups. Nepal is placed in Group 'A' alongside Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Similarly, Group 'B' includes the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and China. Singapore, Kuwait, Thailand, and the Maldives are placed in Group 'C', and Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, and Indonesia are in Group 'D'.