Aakash Tripathi and Bishal Bikram KC cracked half-centuries as Nepal post a competitive 262 runs target for Singapore in the Asia Regional Qualifiers for the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024.

Tripathi hit 78 runs off 100 balls, smashing seven fours and a six as Nepal notched up 261 runs on the board losing seven wickets in the stipulated 50 overs at the match played at Ajman in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.

Tripathi lost his wicket in the 34th over while Nepal had put 145 runs on the board. He shared a second-wicket partnership of 93 runs with Arjun Kumal after Deepak Bohara ‘A’ went back to the pavilion scoring five runs. Kumal contributed 37 runs off 67 balls for Nepal, smashing three fours.

Captain Dev Khanal made 21 runs, Deepak Bohara ‘B’ 15 and Deepak Dumre hit 10 runs.

Bishal Bikram KC made 63 runs off 64 balls unbeaten, smashing four fours and two sixes.

Aryaveer Chaudhary and Abhuday Chhajer took two wickets each for Singapore.

Sixteen teams will be competing in the 50-over global tournament. Eleven teams—Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe—have already qualified for the 2024 World Cup as the best-placed full-member nations from the previous edition of the World Cup in 2022.

The remaining five spots will be fulfilled through the regional qualifier—Asia, East-Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and Americas—with one team from each region securing a place at the Sri Lanka finals.

The Asia Regional Qualifier—the first event of the World Cup qualifiers—is scheduled from February 24 to March 2 at Eden Garden and Malek Ovals.

Nepal will face Kuwait on February 25, Hong Kong on February 27 and Malaysia on February 28, before wrapping up their campaign against hosts the UAE.

Nepal have appeared at the U-19 World Cup seven times before. They played their first World Cup in 2000.