KARACHI, July 14: Nepal launched their bid to claim top honours in the Youth Asia Cup in style when they drubbed Maldives by 344 runs on Monday.

Nepal, who shocked Pakistan in the Youth World Cup in New Zealand earlier last year, showed that they are a formidable side amongst the Associate Members of the Asian Cricket Council.

Nepal had the match in their grasp from the word go after skipper Shakti Gauchan elected to bat first at the toss and plundered 391 for four in their allotted 50 overs.

Openers Kanishka Chaugai and Yashwant Subedi made merry inside the first 19 overs, putting on a partnership of 138, against a bowling attack that looked all but threatening.

Chaugai lashed 15 fours and a six on his way to 125 off only 109 balls. Subedi weighed in with a 66-ball 63 that included eight fours and one six.

Chaugai and Gauchan, who slammed four boundaries in making 60 off 54 deliveries, were involved in a stand of 99 for the third wicket.

In reply, the poor islanders caved in for just 47 in 31.3 overs with none of their batsmen reaching double figures.

The Nepalese returned flattering figures with slow left-armer Lakpa Lama claiming three for five in six overs and Gauchan taking two for three in five overs. Medium-pacer Manjeet Shrestha got rid of the Maldivian openers and off-spinner Irfan Siddiqui completed rout with two for six off five balls.

Singapore, meanwhile, also emerged victorious in the other match of this pool at Karachi Gymkhana, defeating Qatar by 40 runs.

After opting to bat first, Singapore reached 249 for nine in 50 overs with Glenn Meyer (39) and Christopher Janik (26) putting on 75 for the first wicket.

Iftekhar Haider top-scored with 65 off 51 deliveries, striking four sixes and a solitary boundary.

Qatar skipper Athar Khan and Qamar Sadiq shared six wickets conceding 25 and 35 runs.

Qatar then started badly, losing four wickets for 39 runs but recovered to finish at 209 for nine when their overs exhausted.

Mohammad Emran batted patiently for a boundaryless unbeaten 44 off 95 balls.

Summarised scores:

*Nepal beat Maldives by 344 runs at National Stadium:

NEPAL 391-4 in 50 overs (Kanishka Chaugai 125, Yashwant Subedi 63, Shakti Gauchan 60, Paras Khadka 31 not out, Sharad Veshwakar 30, Manjeet Shrestha 25 not out; Ahmed Hasan 2-73);

MALDIVES 47 in 31.3 overs (Lakpa Lama 3-5, Shakti Gauchan 2-3, Irfan Siddiqui 2-6, Manjeet Shrestha 2-16).

*Singapore beat Qatar by 40 runs at Karachi Gymkhana.

SINGAPORE 249-9 in 50 overs (Iftekhar Haider 65, Glenn Meyer 39, Christopher Janik 26, S. Zeeshan Raza 26, Peter Muruthi 24; M. Athar Khan 3-25, Qamar Sadiq 3-35);

QATAR 209-9 in 50 overs (Mohammad Emran 44 not out, Qamar Sadiq 36, Sarmad Adil 35, Walimuni Migara Bimsara 28; Ronald Joseph 3-34, Rizwan Madakia 2-21).

Tuesday’s Pool ‘B’ fixtures: Kuwait v Malaysia at Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Park (Steel Town); Hong Kong v Oman at National Stadium.