Defending champions Bangladesh Under-19 Cricket team almost assured the semifinal berth in the U-19 Asia Cup Cricket from Group B beating Nepal by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

This was the 2nd consecutive victory for Bangladesh in the ongoing U-19 Asia Cup after beating Afghanistan by 45 runs in the opening match.

After the 2nd round matches, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh maintained all win run in Group B securing full four points each.

Sent onto bat first in the day's match, Nepal were all out for 141 runs in the 45.4 overs with opener Aakash Tripathi contributing the team highest 43 runs off 77 balls hitting five boundaries.

Besides, middle order Uttam Magar (29) and lower order Abhisekh Tiwari (29) were the other Nepalese batsmen reaching the double figure.

Riwan Hossain, Iqbal Hossain Emon and Al Fahad took two wickets each conceding 8, 24 and 26 runs respectively.

In reply, Bangladesh easily reached their target scoring the match-winner 142 runs for the loss of five wickets in only 28.4 overs featuring two half centuries by opener Zawad Arbar and captain Azizul Hakim Tamim.

Zawad Arbar scored the match highest 59 runs off 65 balls featuring five fours and four sixes while skipper cum one down Azizul Hakim made 52 runs off 72 deliveries hitting two fours and three sixes.

Yubraj Katri made the major damage in Bangladesh innings grabbing four wickets conceding 23 runs in six over spell with a maiden.

Eight Asian teams--five full-member countries –India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan-- alongside three qualified teams—Nepal, Japan and UAE –split into two groups, are competing in the first phase of the Asia Cup.

Bangladesh, which was placed in four-team Group B with Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, will play Sri Lanka in their remaining group match on Tuesday (December 3).

Bangladesh clinched their maiden and only U-19 Asia Cup crown beating UAE by a huge margin of 195 runs in the last year's final.