U-19 Cricket
Nepal unlucky not to reach super league despite emphatic second win

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 25: Nepal today recorded yet another big victory that however failed to take the conquerors into the super league of the Youth World Cup Cricket tournament as the inferior run rate let the team down.

Nepalese youngsters continued to boost their status from the whipping boys to the dark horse in the ongoing ICC Under-19 Youth World Cup being held in New Zealand. But that was not enough to catapult the team into the super league four where it could have rubbed its shoulders with teams from England, India, Pakistan, Australia.

Nepal with today’s 65 victory against Papua New Guinea recorded impressive performance in the youth world Cup. The Nepalese youngsters have earlier beaten Pakistan with 30 runs and given scare to England before losing with them 37 runs. In total Nepal won two of fixtures out of three in its group. They were barred to enter into the super league on points.

Pakistan who had five points against Nepal’s four went into second round with the six-wicket victory against England. Three teams, England, Pakistan and Nepal have won two games each and lost one while Papua New Guinea lost all its matches. But from the group, England and Pakistan went into the second round on better run-rate averages. Nepal will now play Plate Championship matches in Auckland. Nepal has been placed with Canada, Scotland and Namibia while Bangladesh Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe and Kenya are in another group.

In today’s match, Nepal elected to bat first and made 177 in 48.3 overs. Opener Yashwant Subesi topscored for Nepl with 34 while captain Binod Das made 31. But Nepal bundled the rivals Papua New Guinea for just 112. Left-arm spinner Lakpa Lama was the hero for Nepal and was adjudged the man of the match later as he took four wickets for just 14 runs. Sanjam Regmi claimed two wickets while Shakti Gauchan, Bardan Chalise and Manjit Shrestha took one wicket each.

Meanwhile, in Christchurch, Pakistan defeated England by six wickets to set-up a clash with arch-rivals India in the Super League next week as the tightest group in the first round of the ICC Under-19s World Cup was decided in Christchurch on Friday.

Man of the match Khaqan Raja hit 62 off 76 balls to move Pakistan into top spot in group C, ahead of England on run rate.

Pakistan will now play India, the West Indies and Sri Lanka in Super League group one, with England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in group two.

The Indian government has banned its senior-level cricketers from playing Pakistan because of the current tensions between the neighbouring countries.

But Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah said the policy would not affect the youth tournament.

"The government knows that we are participating in the under-19 World Cup in New Zealand and the team was given permission with the knowledge that India might have to play Pakistan," he said.

"There is no problem regarding the same."

After suffering a surprise defeat to Nepal earlier in the week Pakistan had to beat England to qualify for the Super League, and they got off to a good start by bowling out their opponents for 182.

Captain Nicky Peng top scored with 59 but the loss of the last four wickets in 18 balls deprived England of the runs necessary to put Pakistan under pressure.

England lost wickets at crucial times with Kyle Hogg (40) Bilal Shafayat (21) both getting in,but their dismissals were to prove costly as England failed to see out 50 overs, which ultimately effected their net run rate.

The England bowlers again lacked penetration, despite Hogg bowling a tidy ten overs for 22 runs, and Pakistan claimed victory with more than five overs to spare.

Raja hit some attractive strokes striking six fours and a six before falling to Tim Bresnan, and captain Salman Butt anchored the innings with a responsible 35 from 93 deliveries.

Despite Pakistan winning comfortably it was a tense end to the match with Pakistan needing to win within 48 overs to better England’s run rate and top the group.

In the other match in group C Nepal beat Papua New Guinea by 65 runs dismissing their opponents in the 44th over to earn a bonus point and finish on nine points along with England and Pakistan.

South Africa claimed second spot in group A after their 10 wicket demolition of Canada in Auckland.

Canada were bowled out for just 41 in 28.4 overs, a record low score in an Under-19s World Cup beating the 50 made by Kenya against Australia on Sunday, with Free State bowler Ryan McLaren taking 4-9, and Ian Postman 2-4 off just 10 balls. The South Africans knocked off the required runs in just 8.2 overs.

In Dunedin captain Cameron White scored 156 off 121 balls hitting four sixes and 10 fours as Australia posted 335 for five against Scotland. He was supported by Daniel Christian who hit three sixes and two fours before falling seven runs short of a century. The pair added 212 for the fourth wicket as the Scotland bowlers were taken apart.

Australia’s spin attack has been their strength in this tournament and Xavier Doherty was again impressive taking 4-15 with slow left-armer Ben Casson claiming 3-18 as Scotland were bowled out for 106, losing by 229 runs.

The Super League begins on Sunday with India playing the West Indies and Pakistan meeting Sri Lanka in Christchurch. In the Plate Championship Bangladesh take on Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe face Kenya.