Nepal confirmed a place in the quarterfinals of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after the day’s results that included a comprehensive 8-wicket victory over Ireland in Bangladesh.
India beat New Zealand by 120 runs to ensure both their’s and Nepal’s progress to the last eight on the day on which another two South Asian nations – Sri Lanka and Pakistan – also registered victories and made to the quarterfinals.
For the records, Nepal restricted Ireland to 131/9 in 50 overs with legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane taking a hattrick and a 5-wicket haul. Yogendra Singh Karki scored unbeaten 61 to help Nepal reach the target in 25.3 overs with loss of 2 wickets.
Nepal’s joy after beating Ireland. Photo (c) ICC
Ireland opted to bat first and started cautiously scoring very slow as Nepal opened bowling with a pacer and an off-break bowler. When their openers were back to pavilion by 18th over, they were just 42/2.
If they had any planning to surviving the morning dew and hitting out later, Sandeep wrecked their plan scrapping through the middle order. He dismissed Gary McClintock in his first spell, and took a hattrick – first for any Nepali bowler in the U19 World Cup, in his 32nd over.
Lorcan Tucker was caught out at midwicket off the fourth ball of the over; Sandeep then had Adam Dennison caught behind and bowled Fiachra Tucker for a duck to complete his hat-trick. He took the wicket of William McClintock in his next over to complete his five-for reducing Ireland to a hapless 83/7.
Legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane took a hattrick & finished 5/27 – 3rd best bowling for Nepal in #U19CWC. Photo (c) BCB
Harry Tector’s unbeaten 30 pushed the Ireland score to 131/9. Dipendra Sighe Airee claimed a couple of wickets while Sunil Dhamala and Sushil Kandel took a wicket each.
Despite bowling 50 overs, Nepal were quick through overs and had 8 overs to play before lunch. They lost opener Sandeep Sunar off the first ball of the innings and scored slow to go to lunch at 21/1.
But when they returned, they batsmen played with boosted confidence scoring quickly. Sunil Dhamala was out for 28 with Nepal on 55/2 in 14th over before Yogendra’s unbroken, 77-run partnership for the third wicket with Aarif Sheikh (31 not out) sealed the win for Nepal.
The win put Nepal on top of the table and needing India to beat New Zealand to ensure quarterfinal spot before the final round of Group D match which will see Nepal face India. India sent off New Zealand to plate championship by beating them.
Photo (c) ICC
“What was more important than the hat-trick was that we won an important game and qualified for the quarter-finals,” said Sandeep. “I hope we can continue the same way in other matches.”
Nepal’s captain Raju Rijal said qualifying for the quarter-finals meant a lot to his nation. “I am sure there will be a lot of celebrations back home because cricket is very popular in our country,” said Rijal. “Performances like these will inspire more people to play the game in Nepal. The team spirit is very good and we enjoy each other’s success. The target now is to get past the quarter-finals also.”
Ireland captain Jack Tector blamed his team’s low total on the regular fall of wickets. “The hat-trick really did us in and our batsmen could not get enough runs on the board.”
Selfie Smiles all over! Photo (c) BCB
It will be Nepal’s second appearance in the last eight of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup having made there in 2000 in Sri Lanka. In the rain-affected tournament, Nepal’s matches against South Africa and Pakistan were not completed and Nepal beat Kenya by 14 runs to make it to the second round under Binod Das’ captaincy. Binod is the assistant coach with the U19 team now.
Also for the records, this is Nepal’s fifth victory against Ireland in Under-19 level in 6 matches. Nepal had only lost to them in 2012 U19 Cricket World Cup in Australia.