Nepal topple New Zealand in thrilling encounter

File photo - Captain Josh Finnie produced a solid all-round display but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat - ICC

ESPNCricinfo: Nepal U-19 pulled off a dramatic 32-run win over New Zealand U-19 in a thrilling encounter in Fatullah. Nepal posted a total of 238 and then defended it by bowling New Zealand out for 206. Nepal have a win-loss record of 11-3 while defending totals of 150 or more. Five of those wins have come against Full Members.

Things had looked dicey for Nepal when they were 68 for 3 after winning the toss and batting first. Captain Raju Rijal (48) and Aarif Sheikh (39) added 61 to bring the innings back on track. Some handy middle-order contributions, including a 23-ball 35 from Kushal Bhurtel helped Nepal to a competitive total. In fact, Nepal’s 238 for 7 is their highest in Youth ODIs. Fast bowler Nathan Smith picked up three wickets but went for 58 runs in his 10 overs. After a middling start in the chase - New Zealand were 32 for 2 in the ninth over - Glenn Phillips (52) and Josh Finnie (37) strung together a 72-run stand. However, both men fell in quick succession and soon the innings itself threatened to fall apart.

Dale Phillips, at No. 7, did his best with 41 off 50 balls, and along with Smith brought the equation down from 95 off 60 to 41 off 24. Medium-pacer Dipendra Singh Airee then swung the game decisively in Nepal’s favour with a double strike. They now have a win-loss record of 20-17 in all Youth ODIs and their win-loss ratio of 1.176 is by far the best among non Full-Member teams.

A couple of half-centuries from Sarfaraz Khan and Washington Sundar helped India U-19 overcome a dodgy start and beat Ireland U-19 by 79 runs and record their 11th win on the trot. Joshua Little, who earned praise from his captain Jack Tector for the amount of pace he generated, picked up 3 for 52 and fellow seamer Rory Anders with 3 for 35 had dragged India down to 55 for 4. Ireland had opted to bowl and would have felt that decision was vindicated until Sarfaraz and Washington put on 110 runs in 104 balls to swing the momentum back in India’s favour.

Sarfaraz struck 74 runs off 70 balls with seven fours, but his skill was in manipulating the field and securing ones and twos. Washington, who now has six fifties in seven matches, pushed India past 200 and Zeeshan Ansari’s run-a-ball 36 took the total to a formidable 268.

Ireland’s chase was bogged down by too many dot balls and not enough urgency from their batsmen. The times when they did try to make something out of nothing, India’s fielders made them pay. Ishan Kishan, who bagged a duck earlier, hit the stumps direct to run Stephen Doheny out in the third over and 10 balls later Armaan Jaffer followed suit and had Tector short of his ground.

Fast bowler Avesh Khan (10-1-24-2) hustled the batsmen with his pace and bounce while left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed (9-1-36-1) was maintained a steadfast line of attack on off stump to lend proof to their captain’s Kishan’s words that India hand’t been nervous when their middle order collapsed because they had a skillful bowling attack. Among them was 16-year old legspinner Ansari, who has a googly and a flipper in his repertoire. Medium pacer Rahul Batham took the most wickets with 3 for 15.

Ireland were anchored by fifties from William McClintock (58 off 86) and Lorcan Tucker (57 off 89). Both batsmen displayed the aptitude for the big shots, but they weren’t able to sustain their hitting. They put on the highest partnership of the match - 113 off 151 balls - but faced a required rate of 8.89, which had to be maintained over 18 overs. Both men fell in the final 10 overs and Ireland were all out in the 50th overs.

Group B

Pakistan U-19 cruised to a six-wicket win with 111 balls to spare in their tournament opener against Afghanistan U-19 in Sylhet.

Pakistan opted to bowl and it proved an excellent decision as legspinner Shadab Khan and seamer Hasan Mohsin ran through Afghanistan. Shadab picked up 4 for 9 in five overs and Mohsin returned figures of 3 for 24. Only Tariq Stanikzai, who complied a 76-ball 53, was able to resist them as Afghanistan fell from 98 for 3 to 126 all out. Pakistan lost captain Gauhar Hafeez for 1 in the chase, but Zeeshan Malik (29) and Mohammad Umar (25) helped them recover. Mohsin struck 28 off 36 as well to be named Man of the Match. Zia-ur-Rehman picked up two wickets while Rashid Khan, who has already represented Afghanistan on the international stage, claimed one victim.

Sri Lanka U19 produced a dominant display with both bat and ball to beat Canada U19 by 196 runs in Sylhet. After choosing to bat, Sri Lanka piled on 315 on the back of fifties from Kaveen Bandara, captain Charith Asalanka, Shammu Ashan and Vishad Randika. Wanidu Hasaranga struck three fours and two sixes in his 13-ball 28 to provide the impetus to the end of the innings on a high. In response, only Arslan Khan manged to score more than 22 for Canada as they were bowled out for 119 in the 40th over.