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Kathmandu Saturday January 26, 2002 Magh 13, 2058.
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Nepal fails to advance despite win
By Rajendra Gyawali
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Jan 25: Nepal, aided by brilliant
bowling performance from Lakpa Lama, inflicted a 65-run defeat on Papua New Guinea in
their final league match of the Under-19 World Cup held at Hagley Oval ground on Friday.
Despite earning five points, including a bonus, from their
comprehensive win, Nepal missed out the Super League on run rate as Pakistan and England
progressed through with better net run rate. Pakistan defeated England to finish as the
Group C leaders with the net run rate of 0.820 ahead of England, who has 0.804. Nepal
finished with the net run rate 0.387.
Top two teams from all the four pools qualify for the Super
League stage. As a third team of Group ‘C’, Nepal will now play for the Plate
Championship.
"Our players have performed well in the
tournament," said Roy Dias, Nepali coach after the win. "It’s unfortunate
that we couldn’t advance to the Super Eight."
Nepali slow blowers once again held the edge over the
opposition batsmen as they restricted Papua New Guinea to 112 runs in 43.5 overs.
Nepali tweakers cast a spin web on the Papua New Guinea
middle order after a relatively good opening partnership that put up 49 runs in 12 overs.
Lama, bowling economically, ran through the lower middle order batting giving away just 14
runs in his 10-over spell.
Shakti Gauchan, who was only other Nepali bowler to bowl 10
overs, was at his miserly best taking one wicket for 12 runs. Sanjam Regmi took two
wickets while Manjit Shrestha and Bardan Chalise took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Nepal scored 177 runs in 48.3 overs losing all the
wickets after captain Binod Das won the toss and elected to bat first. Nepali batting,
especially middle order, once again caved in after openers Kanishka Chaugain (21) and
Yashwant Subedi (34) brought up 53 runs in 14 overs.
From a healthy 53 for no loss at one stage, a dramatic middle
order collapse left Nepal reeling at 117 for five in the 37th over when Shakti Gauchan
departed after scoring a patient 25 off 74 balls.
However, Nepali captain Binod Das (31) and Manjit Shrestha
(23) joined forces in time to defy the opposition bowlers to steady the team’s
innings. As the Nepal failed to wag its tail with the last 5 wickets falling for just 10
runs, those 50 runs that Das and Shrestha shared for the sixth wicket helped Nepal post a
respectable total.
Skipper Das, who has successfully marshaled his troop in
defending lowly score against Pakistan in the team’s last encounter, was confident of
Nepali could defend the total.
"Although our batsmen failed today, we were confident
that we could defend 177 runs," said Das, who hails from Bara district.
Nepal will play its first Plate Championship match against
Canada on January 30 in Auckland. Namibia and Scotland are the other two teams in the
Plate League 2. Plate League 1 consists of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea and
Kenya. Nepal travels to Auckland on Saturday.
A one-run miss!
Nepal, showcasing its fighting spirit, defended a moderate
total of 177 runs against Papua New Guinea. Apart from four regular points, the 65-run win
also fetched Nepal a bonus point. Unfortunately, Nepal despite tying with Pakistan and
England at nine points failed to enter the Super League.
Nepal, who defeated Pakistan, could have been all smiles,
though. It would have finished as the winners of the Group C if Pakistan innings was
wrapped up even one run less than 121 runs it conceded. That would have added one bonus
point, taking Nepal’s tally to 10 points.
"If only we had bowled Pakistan out a run earlier…."
Roy Dias’ pain is shared by the Nepali cricket fans.
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