Dev Khanal scored a record century before Subash Bhandari and Dipesh Kandel took three wickets each as Nepal opened their ACC U-19 Men’s Premier Cup with a 274-run victory over Iran in Bangi on Thursday.

Khanal reached his hundred off 60 balls to become the first Nepali player to score two

centuries in the U-19 cricket. The U-19 captain had scored 125 runs off 117 balls against Kuwait during the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Regional Qualifier in February this year.

Nepal lost opener Arjun Kumal for a nought and Aakash Tripathi for 3 and were 2-10 in the fifth over but Khanal put on a 166-run stand with Kumal’s opening partner Deepak Bohara, who made 65 off 59 balls to anchor the innings.

After Khanal departed in the 21st over, caught by Zeid Raeisi off Salman Naizmand, Dipak Prasad Dumre added 69 runs off 41 balls to guide Nepal to a huge 353 run total.

Dadrahman Raeisi and Salman Niazmand took three wickets each while Zeid pocked two for Iran.

In reply, Iran batters could not cope with the bowlers Bhandari, who returned 3-6, and Kandel, who took 3-4, and were bowled out for just 79 runs. Amer Khorsand (37) was the only Iranian batter to score in double digit.

Nepal next play Bahrain on Sunday.