Malaysia defeated Zimbabwe by 70 runs on Wednesday to make proud all the associate nations and force the African Test nation out of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup contention.

Also on Wednesday, Sri Lanka defeated Namibia by 163 runs to progress to the Super League with Australia and ends Nepal’s mathematical chance of qualification. Nepal now plays in the Plate League. (more…)

The well-known batting fragility put Nepal on the backfoot as Australian pacer James Pattinson utilized the pace and swing well to give his team a 96-run win at the University Sains Malaysia Groud, Penang in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup.

Nepal restricted Australia to 206 in 48.5 overs but got out in 110 in 32.1 overs to hand over the Aussies a big win. The defeat has virtually ended Nepal’s hopes of qualifying to the Super League. (more…)

Nepal’s aim at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2008 is to reach the super league, and for that, the associate must defeat Australia, a strong Test nation, on Tuesday’s match.

Only a victory will give Nepal a strong chance to qualify for the last eight in super league. Australia in other hands want to ensure a place in before going into the big match against Sri Lanka.

Australia is at the top of the Group C table with a win against Namibia whereas Sri Lanka, who defeated Nepal by 61 runs, is at second on run rate. Both have two points.

So far, Nepal and Australia had played one U19 match - that was in Bangladesh 2004. Nepal won the toss and scored 154/9 in 50 overs with current captain Paras Khadka topscoring with 33. Australia, who were once 62/4 with Manjeet Shrestha picking three wickets, utilized two dropped catch to win by six wickets.

For the first 15 overs of both innings, it was Nepal’s match, but for the rest, it was Sri Lanka’s and that made them deserving winner at the Penang Sports Club Ground on Monday.

Sagar Khadka bowls to Sri Lankan batsman. Photo Courtesy: MalaysiaCricket.com

Left-arm pacer Amrit Bhattarai reduced Sri Lanka to 58/4 in 15th over but the Test nation recovered from the blow and went on to score 236/9 in allotted 50 overs. Nepal was 60/0 in 15 overs but then failed to convert the good start into a winning one and were bowled out for 175 in 48.5 overs for a 61-run defeat. (more…)

It looks like the Nepal-Sri Lanka match is largely about the pressure handling. Sri Lanka, the favorite for victory, cannot take Nepal lightly, for its giant killing history while for the tiny associate nation; this is probably the biggest opportunity this year to maintain the image.

The Penang Sports Club Ground will see, if Nepali youngsters perform well, a closely contested battle - and maybe an upset. (more…)

Even when Nepal was preparing for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2008, the word ‘pressure’ was on the air. Answers from coach and captain always reminded that they are looking for at least a win against a Test nation to keep up the morale, and image, of the team.

Can Nepal repeat it again? (more…)

Here are a few paragraphs on Nepal from other sites and news. (more…)

Two experienced players - captain Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla - produced brilliant performances on Thursday but that was not enough to beat Zimbabwe in the second warm-up match of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup at Royal Military Ground, Kuala Lumpur. (more…)