Afghanistan edge past Nepal by 1 Run

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 7: Afghanistan secured a nail-biting 1-run victory over Nepal in the second match of the three-game warm-up series for the U-19 World Cup. With this win, Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead, clinching the series with one match to spare.

Electing to bat first, Afghanistan posted 168 runs on the board before being bowled out in 50 overs. Chasing the target, Nepal fell agonisingly short, getting all out for 167 runs with three balls remaining.

Nepal’s poor batting display cost them the match. Except for opener Sahil Patel, the other batters struggled to contribute significantly.

Neeraj Kumar Yadav (15 off 21 balls) and captain Naren Bhatt (13 off 26 balls) managed double-digit scores at the top of the order. The middle-order batters Cibrin Shrestha (2), Dilsad Ali (8), and Roshan Bishwakarma (9) were dismissed cheaply. Abhishek Tiwari (24 off 25 balls) and Dhruv Sonar (21 off 31 balls) added useful runs lower down the order.

Sahil Patel’s composed knock was the highlight of Nepal’s innings. He scored a patient 64 off 119 balls, including six boundaries, anchoring the chase. He was dismissed in the 42nd over as the seventh wicket, leaving Nepal at 143/7.

At that point, Nepal needed 26 runs off 46 balls with three wickets in hand. However, they couldn’t finish the chase. 

The final over turned into a dramatic affair with Nepal requiring 11 runs to win. Dhruv Sonar smashed a boundary off the first ball, followed by a dot. He hit another boundary off the third ball but was bowled on the fourth delivery. 

A no-ball call added a confusion but la umpires ruled him run out after a discussion. Nepal needed 2 runs off 3 balls with a free-hit advantage then but ended up bowled out.

Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, and Hafeez Zadran were the standout bowlers for Afghanistan, each claiming two wickets.

Earlier, Afghanistan also struggled with the bat. Nepali bowlers made a strong start, reducing the visitors to 38/4 in 15.2 overs.

Opener Khalid Ahmadzai managed 10 runs before being bowled by Santosh Yadav. Faisal Shinozada was dismissed for a duck, while Uzairullah Niazai (19) and Barkat Ibrahimzai (0) couldn’t contribute much.

Captain Mehboob Khan anchored the Afghan innings. He scored 58 off 114 balls, including one boundary, making him the team’s top scorer. 

He was dismissed by Abhishek Tiwari as the ninth wicket. Roohullah Arab added 27 runs from the lower order. Hafeez Zadran remained unbeaten on 5.

Santosh Yadav was the pick of Nepal’s bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 23 runs in 10 overs, including a maiden. Cibrin Shrestha and Bipin Sharma chipped in with two wickets each.

In the first match of the series, Nepal suffered a heavy 130-run defeat against Afghanistan.

Both teams are gearing up for the U-19 Men’s World Cup Asia Qualifiers. The tournament will be held next week in Nepal and will feature Nepal, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman.