Singapore won the ACC U-15 Elite Cup 2007 last week, beating Kuwait by four wickets in the final played in Bhaktapur.
Kuwait made 121 for 7 in 40 overs after choosing to bat first. Apporv Sanjay Gaur notched 43 while Sarangdev Krishnan took two wickets. In reply, Singapore were down to 17 for 4 at one stage but patient batting from Mohit Kulkarki (24), Man of the Match Prasheen Param (30*) and Usman Manazir (26*) took them to victory in the 35th over.
Though the ACC U-15 Elite Cup 2007 final didn’t really go down to the wire, the intensity of the competition was heartening. More encouraging was the fact that the young Nepal boys held their nerve to seal victory, without trying to go the hara-kiri way, as some of their more illustrious counterparts are infamous for doing once too often.
Only time will tell whether the young ICC Associate member prospects can sustain the good work to make a mark at the highest level. The local cricket administrators would do well motivate them to continue with cricket as a career.