Nepal produced the upset against New Zealand, a Test-playing nation, for the second time as the associate nation had stunned the Kiwis by one wicket to win the Plate Championship during the 2006 youth world cup in Sri Lanka.
Similarly, this is the seventh occasion that Nepal beat Test-playing nations in the youth world cup in its seventh appearance.
Nepal, which had featured in the biennial youth world cup five straight times from 2000 to 2008 and had also participated in the 2012 edition, had defeated Test-playing nations South Africa twice, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe once. Nepal missed the 2010 and 2014 editions.
On Thursday, Nepal, being invited to bat first, put 238/7 in the allotted 50 overs with skipper Raju Rijal scoring highest 48 runs off 65 balls that included six fours.
The total was the highest for Nepal as its earlier record was 234 runs against Ireland in 2006.
Nepal started its innings comfortably with opener Sandeep Sunar (39 runs off 60 balls) shared a 39-run stand for the first wicket in 8.4 overs with Sunil Dhamala (15). Sandeep hit a six and three boundaries.
Nepal was once 68/3 in 18.3 overs, but man-of-the-match Raju and Aarif Sheikh (39 off 60) shared a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket to anchor the innings. Aarif added 47 runs with Rajbir Singh (24) for the fifth wicket.
There was a 40-run partnership between unbeaten Kushal Bhurtel (35 off 23) and Dipendra Singh Airee (16) for the seventh wicket.
Natham Smith bagged the highest three wickets for New Zealand.
Later, Nepal restricted the Kiwis on 206 in 47.1 overs as Dipendra picked up the highest three wickets. Prem Tamang claimed two wickets while Sunil Dhamala and Sandeep Lamichhane claimed a wicket each.
The Kiwis failed to meet the target despite opener Glenn Phillips scoring 52 runs off 68 balls that included a six and five fours and Dale Phillips added 41 runs off 50 balls. Josh Finnie contributed 37 runs.
Nepal's victory was possible after Prem took two major wickets of Glenn and Josh in two consecutive overs to put an end to their 72-run stand for the third wicket.
Nepal head coach Jagat Tamata commented that the victory was possible as all three departments --batting, bowling and fielding were good.
"Our players played well and all three departments were at their best," said Tamata, who added that his side will play even better in next matches.
"This was a great win for us," said skipper Raju as quoted by the ICC.
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