Nepal loses first match to young Blackcaps at ICC U19 World Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 22: Nepal U19 lost its opening group match of the 15th edition of the ICC Under-19 World Cup against New Zealand’s young team by 64 runs at Buffalo Park in East London, South Africa, on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 303, Nepal could only score 238 runs in the loss of nine wickets in the 50 overs the team batted. Starting with openers Deepak Bohora and Arjun Kumal, Deepak was sent back to the pavilion by Mason Clarke in the very first over for a duck. However, Arjun stayed, and Nepal had a sight to win until he was at the crease. 

Hitting 12 fours and scoring 90 runs in 104 deliveries, Kumal departed as the eighth wicket of Nepal leaving the team at 176 in the 38th over. Until then, Aakash Tripathi had departed for two, Uttam Magar for a duck, Gulshan Jha for two, Dipak Bohora for 15 and Dipesh Kandel for a duck. 

Captain Dev Khanal, who came in at four, and Arjun were expected to create a proper partnership in the middle order; however, Dev departed in the 16th over after scoring 36 off 34 with the help of five fours and a six.

The only other six for Nepal came from the bat of Tilak Bhandari, who entered the crease as the final wicket when Nepal was at 201 for nine. Playing all the 50 overs of the chase, Subash Bhandari (33 off 52) and Tilak (17 off 19) stayed not out and took the team to 238 runs after Aakash Chand departed as the ninth wicket after adding 14 runs.

Nepal still has two matches in the group stage against Pakistan and Afghanistan in the upcoming days at Buffalo Park. Nepal still has chances to qualify for the top six from two groups.

Mason Clarke bagged three wickets while Ewald Schreuder and Oscar Jackson claimed two each. Zac Cumming and Matt Rowe were also able to pocket one wicket each for the young Blackcaps.

Snehith Reddy was ready

Winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand’s openers Tom Jones and Luke Watson started the inning calmly. Nepal had to wait for the first powerplay to end for their partnership to end. Subash Bhandari bowled out Watson as the first wicket in the first ball of the 11th over. 

Then came Snehith Reddy Devireddy and took the helm of the batting inning. Staying not out throughout the inning, banging six sixes and 11 fours in 125 deliveries, Snehith scored 147 runs. 

Nepal was able to send Jones and Oliver Tewatiya back to the pavilion until the 15th over with New Zealand at 67/3. New Zealand U19 captain Oscar Jackson then joined Snehith to take the team to 224 runs in 41.5 overs as Jackson departed at 75 runs off 81 balls.

Oscar showed his class as he sent the ball above the boundary for a maximum five times. He was bowled by Aakash Tripathi. Snehith was then at 80 off 83.

The only other stable partnership with Snehith was by Alex Thompsonm, who came in at eight, as the duo scored 49 off 31. 

Subash took three wickets in total while Gulshan Jha bagged two. Dipesh Kandel, Aakash and Tilak claimed one each as New Zealand ended its 50 overs at 302/8.