KARACHI, July 22: Qatar were celebrating on Tuesday even without playing when Singapore went out of the Youth Asia Cup after suffering a heavy defeat against Nepal.

Singapore needed to win their final Pool ‘A’ fixture against the fancied Nepalese to make the semifinals but lost by 143 runs on a slow Asghar Ali Shah Stadium pitch.

Qatar thus qualified for Friday’s semifinal at Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Park as the runners-up behind Pool ‘A’ leaders Nepal.

After being set an achievable target of 203, the Singaporeans were shot out for 59 in 45.1 overs with a mixture of atrocious stroke play, especially against the slow bowlers.

Peter Muruthi’s 12 was the lone double figure score in the innings while Mr Extras top scored with a tally of 21, including 17 wides.

The main damage was caused by off-spinner Ratan Kumar Rauniyar, who captured four for 20 in eight overs. Slow left-armer Lakpa Lama yielded verifiably sensational figures of 10 overs, eight maidens, two runs and two wickets.

Earlier, opener Yashwant Subedi (40 off 65 balls, three fours) and all-rounder Manjeet Shrestha (38 off 52 balls, four fours) were the mainstays of Nepal’s total of 202 for eight in 50 overs after skipper Shakti Gauchan had elected to bat first.

Medium-pacer Maxim Mok was the pick of Singapore bowlers, taking three for 37 in 10 overs.

United Arab Emirates (UAE), already eliminated from the championship, scored a consolation victory by eight wickets against the Maldives at National Stadium.

The Maldivians were bowled out for 94 in 35.4 overs, having been sent into bat by UAE captain Leon Carlo.

Riaz Khaliq, the slow left-armer, claimed three for 27 in nine overs with Carlo, who bowls medium-pacers, and off-spinner Owais Hameed chipping with two wickets apiece.

UAE needed 21 overs to reach their target after an opening partnership of 65 between Ryan Chadha (26) and Ramvir Rai (25 not out).

The qualifiers for the last four stage from Pool ‘B’ will be decided on Wednesday, the last day of preliminary round matches.

Malaysia are all but assured of topping the group because they face a relatively simple task of getting the better of Thailand, arguably the weakest side on show here, at National Stadium.

Therefore, it a straight battle between Oman and Kuwait, who take on each other at Quaid-i-Azam Park, to settle the issue for the remaining semifinal berth.

Summarised scores:

*UAE beat Maldives by eight wickets at National Stadium:

MALDIVES 94 in 35.4 overs (Ahmed Umar Jamaal 21; Riaz Khaliq 3-27, Owais Hameed 2-4, Leon Glen Carlo 2-22);

UAE 96-2 in 21 overs (Ryan Chadha 26, Ramvir Rai 25 not out).

*Nepal beat Singapore by 143 runs at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium:

NEPAL 202-8 in 50 overs (Jashwant Subedi 40, Manjeet Shrestha 38, Shakti Gauchan 28, Prem Chaudhry 25; Maxim Mok 3-37);

SINGAPORE 59 in 45.1 overs (Ratan Kumar Rauniyar 4-20, Lakpa Lama 2-2).

Wednesday’s Pool ‘B’ fixtures: Malaysia v Thailand at National Stadium; Kuwait v Oman at Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Park, Steel Town.