KATHMANDU, Jan 28: Nepal has defeated New Zealand by 32 runs in its opener of the ICC U-19 World Cup at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah in Bangladesh on Thursday.
Sent in to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal had set a target of 239 runs against New Zealand losing seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Nepal's skipper Raju Rijal top-scored 48 runs studded with six fours off 65 balls, Sandeep Sunar and Aarif Sheikh made 39 runs each while Kushal Bhurtel contributed 35 runs including five fours off 23 balls. Nepal restricted New Zealand to paltry 206 runs leaving it behind with a wide margin of 32 runs victory.
Dipendra Singh Airee grabbed highest three wickets giving away 24 runs in five overs. Prem Tamang took two wickets at the cost of 38 runs in 10 overs while Sunil Dhamala and Sandeep Lamichhane snatched one wicket each to secure win for Nepal.
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This is the highest run score ever made by Nepal. It had made 234 runs against the same opponent during the 2006 U-19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka. In reply, New Zealand's player Nathan Smith grabbed three wickets conceding 58 runs in 10 overs. Similarly, Christian Leopard, Aniket Parikh, Rachin Ravindra and Josh Finnie snatched one wicket each giving away 45, 21 37, 26 runs respectively.
For New Zealand, New Glenn Phillips had topscored 52 runs in 68 balls, Dale Phillips made 41 runs while Josh Finnie 37 runs in 60 balls before being bowled out by Prem Tamang. Nepal is in group D along with New Zealand, three time champion India and Ireland in the tournament that had kicked off formally on Wednesday.
Nepal, which is playing its seventh youth world cup, had defeated the same opponent by a wicket while claiming the Plate Championship title during the 2006 U-19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka.
Nepal has realistic chances of making it to the second round as the group includes Ireland whom Nepal beat twice in the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers held in Malaysia last year. Nepal will take on Ireland on Saturday and play against India on Monday in its other group matches.
Photos: ICC
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