It did not take long for the on-going ICC Under-19 World Cup to produce it’s first upset as the Nepal beat New Zealand by 32 runs in their first Group D clash at Fatullah, Bangladesh, on Thursday.
Nepal were to bat first on a bowler friendly track but a disciplined batting performance helped them put on 238 for the loss of seven wickets.
Nepal skipper Raju Rijal top scored with 48, while Sandeep Sunar (39), Aarif Shiekh (39) and Kushal Bhurtel (35) all chipped in with some useful runs to the total.
New Zealand could have conceded more if it was not for Nathan Smith’s three wickets which came in the 42nd and 48th over.
Nepal carried on with their disciplined approach with the ball too to bowl out the Kiwis for just 206 in the 48th over.
The New Zealand batting line was rattled at the very start of their innings when they lost two wickets within the first nine overs before opener Glenn Phillips and skipper Josh Finnie tried to rescue the side with a 72-run partnership.
New Zealand’s resistance was broken when Prem Tamang’s off-break helped Nepal get two wickets in two overs.
Tamang finished with figures of 2 for 38, and New Zealand was left needing 95 in the last ten overs.
Dale Phillips attempt to bring New Zealand back in the match also failed after he was dismissed after scoring 41.
After Tamang did his bit, Dipendra Airee went one better to pick up the last three wickets and end New Zealand’s innings.
The last time Nepal beat a Test-playing nation in an U-19 World Cup was in 2008 in Malaysia when it had recorded a 99-run win against Zimbabwe in the ninth place play-off quarter-final.