Nepal U19 upset NZ U19 by 32 runs in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2016

In another upset at the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2016, Nepal U-19 pulled out a shocking victory over New Zealand U-19 by 32 runs at Fatullah in the 6th Match of the tournament, from Group D.

New Zealand U-19 won the toss and asked Nepal to bat. The NZ bowlers did reasonably well and managed to restrict the opposition to a par score of 238/7 in their 50 overs. The Nepal captain Raju Rijal top scored with 48 off 65 with 6 boundaries and shared a vital 61-run stand with Aarif Sheikh who made 39 off 60 for the 4th wicket.

Important contributions from Rajbir Singh and Kushal Bhurtel of 24 and 35 respectively guided Nepal to a total of respectibility after Sndeep Sunar had given them a steady start with his 39 off 60 opening the innings.

For NZ U-19, Nathan Smith picked up 3/58 from 10 overs, while Christian Leopard, Aniket Parrikh, Rachin Ravindra, and captain Josh Finnie picked up one wicket each.

The New Zealand reply was led by Glenn Phillips’ half-century, who made 52 off 68 with 5 boundaries and a six opening the innings, and was firmly supported by captain Finnie’s 37 and lower-order contribution from Glenn’s brother Dane Phillips, who made 41 off 50 to take NZ close to the target.

But, some disciplined bowling by Nepal and three run-outs effected by the Nepali fielders on the day meant that NZ fell short of the target by 32 runs and were bowled out for 206 in the 48th over.

Nathan Smith played a brisk cameo of 24 off 13 in the quest of getting his team over the line, but Deepak Airee’s triple-strike towards the end of the NZ innings meant that Nepal began their World Cup campaign in style.

Apart from Airee’s three-for, Prem Tamang picked up two wickets while Sandip Lamichhane and Sunil Dhamala got one wicket each. The NZ run chase was going on smoothly till the time Glenn Phillips and captain Finnie were batting, who shared a 72-run third wicket stand, but once Phillips got out at the score of 103, it initiated a collapse which saw NZ lose their last 7 wickets for just 103 runs.

Brief Scores: Nepal Under-19 238/7 (Rijal 48, Smith 3/58) beat New Zealand Under-19 (toss) 206 ( Phillips 52, Airee 3/24) by 32 runs.

Man of the match: Raju Rijal (Nepal Under-19)