UNB, Fatullah :
The all-debutant Nepalese side upset upperhand cricketing nation New Zealand by 32 runs in their first match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Thursday.
Replying to a moderate score of 238, New Zealand dismally finished the innings at 206 for all in 47.1 overs including Glenn Phillips topscoring 52 off 68 balls involving five fours and one six.
Besides, GD Phillips stayed with skipper Josh Finnie in the 3rd wicket for a 72-run partnership in 17.3 overs. The 3rd pair carried the team total to a decent 103/3 in 25.5 overs from 31/2 in 8.2 overs.
No-7 batsman Dale Phillips scored 41 off 50 balls with three fours and JL Finnie was out for 37 runs off 60 balls including three boundaries.
Nathan Smith (24 off 13b; 1×4, 2×6), Josh Clarkson (15 off 44b), Aniket Parikh (11 off 11b; 2×4) and Finn Allen (11 off 18b; 2×4) were the other double figure scorers for New Zealand.
Dipendra Singh Airee captured three wickets for economic 24 runs in five-over. Prem Tamang bagged two wickets for 38 runs in 10-over. Sunil Dhamala and Sandeep Lamichhane took one wicket each for 33 and 41 runs in eight and seven overs.
Sent in to bat first in their Group-D match, Nepal piled up the moderate score of 238 for 7 in 50 overs displaying a comprehensive batting style in the 11th edition of the tournament.
Skipper Raju Rijal who was adjudged man of the match, scored 48 off 65 balls with six boundaries.
Facing 60 balls each, opener S Sunar and Aarif Sheikh scored 39 runs apiece. Sandeep’s score included three boundaries and one six while Aarif hit three boundaries.
Kushal Bhurtel hit an unbeaten 35 off 23 balls, featuring five fours in his eighth position while Rajbir Singh (24 off 38b; 1×4), Dipendra Singh Airee (16 off 17b; 1×4) and Sunil Dhamala (15 off 26b; 3×4) were the other double figure scorers for Nepal.
Nathan Smith captured three wickets for 58 runs in 10 overs while Aniket Parikh, Josh Finnie, Rachin Ravindra and Christian Leopard took one wicket each for 21, 26, 37 and 45 runs.
