Nepal Surprised Newzealand by Won in U19 Worldcup Cricket Match

Nepali under-19 cricket team stunned New Zealand with a victory of 32 runs in their group stage match of the U-19 ICC Cricket World Cup held at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah of Bangladesh on Thursday. Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and elected to first Nepal had posted a total of 238 runs with a loss of seven wickets in the first innings while New Zealand were skittle for 206 runs at the end of 47.1 overs in a thrilling encounter.
Nepal lost their first wicket when opening batsman Sunil Dhamala was caught behind of Christian Leopard bowling, in the ninth over and scored 15 runs. Nepal lost two quick wickets in succession and were reduced to 68-3 in the 18th over before skipper Raju Rijal and Aarif Shiekh shared a 61-run partnership for the 5th wicket to bring back the innings on track. Opening batsman Sandeep Sunar, who looked solid, was bowled by Leopard in the 18th over. He showed a great composure to score 39 runs off 60 balls with three 4s and a 6. Skipper Rijal carried his good form with the bat in this tournament as well, with yet another 48 runs just two short of half-century in 65 balls with six 4s. He was declared man of the match. In the space of two overs, Nepal lost two set batsmen Aarif Shiekh and Raj Bir Singh in the 41st and 43rd over, both contributing with 39 and 24 runs respectively, while Dipendra Singh Airee made 16 runs off 17 balls with one 4 before being bowled by Smith. Some handy middle order contributions and a late cameo from Kushal Bhurtel, 35 runs of just 23 balls helped Nepal to set a competitive total. In reply, New Zealand suffered an early blow when their opening batsman R Ravindra was run out by Sandeep Lamichanne in the 4th over. New Zealand never gathered momentum as they kept on losing wickets in the regular intervals. It looked like the contest was over before Dale Philips kept the New Zealand in the hunt with 41 and along with Nathan Smith brought down the equation from 95 off 60 to 41 off 24. However, Dipendra Singh Airee’s late double strike decisively swung the game in Nepal’s favour. New Zealand’s Glenn Philips struck 54 runs off 68 deliveries with five 4s and a 6. Nepal’s Airee was pick of the bowler with three wickets. Prem Tamang took two kiwi’s wickets and Sunil Dhamala and Sandeep Lamichanne chipped in with a wicket each. Dipendra Singh Airee’s quick, swinging deliveries had unsettled the kiwi batsmen early and his line and length was accurate and swinging deliveries unplayable at times in his second spell of the game. Nepal not only stunned the kiwis, but have sent in a strong message that they are growing and evolving nation in cricket. The last time Nepal had beaten a Test-playing nation in an U-19 World Cup was in 2008 in Malaysia when it had recorded a 99-run win against Zimbabwe in the ninth place play-off quarter-final, according to ICC. Nepal will play against Ireland on January 30 in the same venue.