Nepal wraps up U19 World Cup with loss to India

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 3: Winning in a nail-biting do-or-die match against Afghanistan’s young side during the group stage and qualifying for the Super Six, Nepal’s younguns expanded their stay in South Africa. The team’s extended campaign ended after losing against India in its final match of the Super Six Group A on Friday.

Nepal, an associate team, defeated Afghanistan, a Test-playing nation, and became the only associate member to progress to the Super Six. The win against Afghanistan was the only victory for Nepal’s U19 team in five matches throughout the campaign. In the other four matches, which were against New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, Nepal’s future stars could only gain experience. Nepal was however able to create at least one moment where it dominated quality opponents in the four matches it lost. 

Such a moment was created twice, while bowling first and later in the chase, by Nepal at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, South Africa, against five-time U19 World Cup winners India. 

Nepal had the barest of chances for the semi-finals based on points despite qualifying for the Super Six. Moreover, the wins for India and Pakistan in their opening matches of the Super Six ended the hopes for not only Nepal but other teams in the group. India, who is also the defending champion, lost its first three wickets by the end of the 14th at only 62 runs. At that moment, Nepali cricket fans saw a chance to restrict India to a low total and chase it howsoever. Similarly, Nepali openers stayed not out until 13.2 overs with 48 runs on the board. It was the first time in the tournament that India was unable to take three wickets of the opponent within the first powerplay. 

However, both moments were crushed by the high-quality Indian side. From 62/3, India U19 captain Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas took the team to 277 runs before Dhas departed in 47.4 overs. Both registered individual centuries with Saharan departing at 100 off 107 and Dhas at 116 off 101. With Musheer Khan adding nine more runs, India posted a target of 298 in the loss of five wickets.

Gulshan Jha took three wickets and Aakash Chand claimed one for Nepal. India’s Priyanshu Moliya was run out while trying to run for the fifth run.

On the other hand, Indian bowlers were unable to send either of the openers Deepak Bohora and Arjun Kumal back to the pavilion within the first powerplay. While the first wicket fell after a long time than India expected, the others did not take time.

With Bohora departing at 22 off 42 in the 14th over when the team was at 48/1, Nepal lost its next six wickets until the 28th over. Dipesh Kandel departed as the seventh wicket without opening his account leaving Nepal at 77/7 in 27.5 overs. By then, Uttam Magar, Arjun Kumal, Bishal Bikram KC and Deepak Dumre departed at 8 off 30, 22 off 42, 1 off 2 and 0 off 4 respectively.

Gulshan Jha, who already had enough experience playing in the senior team, was again unable to deliver with the bat. Similar to the previous four matches in the campaign, Jha departed for a paltry, this time at 1 off 6.

Captain Dev Khanal showed determination with Subash Bhandari, a bowler who has proved with the bat by stealing runs coming at the tail-end, stayed at the crease, rotated strikes, and took Nepal over the 100-run mark. Bhandari, however, departed as the eighth wicket leaving Nepal at 105-8 by the end of the 35th over.  

Khanal departed in the 39th over leaving Nepal at 120/9 after adding 33 off 53. The last two batsmen, Aakash Chand and Durgesh Gupta, whom India expected to send back ASAP became the biggest headache as they batted until the 50 overs for a record last-wicket partnership for the team. Nepal was 165/9 by the end of the batting inning.

Gupta, with the only six for Nepal, became the second-highest scorer in the game with 29 off 43 alongside Chand (18 off 35) and stayed not out despite the team falling short of 132 runs. 

Saumy Pandey bagged four wickets while Arshin Kulkarni took two. Likewise, Raj Limbani, Aaradhya Shukla and Murugan Abhishek claimed one each for India. India progresses to the semi-final stage as the topper of Super Six Group A after the win against Nepal.