Nepal Advances to ICC U-19 World Cup Super Six After Thrilling Win Against Afghanistan

In a gripping encounter, Nepal secured its place in the Super Six stage of the ICC U-19 World Cup cricket tournament by defeating Afghanistan in the final match of the first group stage. The clash saw Nepal emerge victorious by one wicket, displaying exceptional resilience and skill.

Match Highlights:

• Afghanistan, having won the toss and chosen to bat in the scheduled 50-over match, posted a total of 145 runs in 40.1 overs, losing all wickets.
• In pursuit of the 146-run target, Nepal faced a challenging battle but ultimately secured victory by reaching 146 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 44.4 overs.

Key Performers:

• Nepal’s captain, Dev Khanal, played a crucial innings, scoring a half-century with 58 runs, featuring seven fours in his 73-ball innings.
• Other notable contributions to Nepal’s successful run chase included Deepak Bohra (27 runs), Akash Tripathi (16 runs), Arjun Kumal (10 runs), and Suvash Bhandari (9 runs unbeaten).

Bowling Highlights:

• Faridun Daudzai of Afghanistan was a formidable force with the ball, taking three wickets. Khalil Ahmed and Nasir Khanal also contributed, securing two wickets each, while Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Arab Gul took one wicket each.
• For Nepal, Akash Chand demonstrated exceptional bowling prowess, claiming five wickets. Dipesh Kandel provided valuable support with two wickets, while Gulsan Jha, Subas Bhandari, and Tilak Bhandari each secured one wicket.

Top Scorers for Afghanistan:

• Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar led the batting for Afghanistan, contributing the highest score of 37 runs, featuring four fours and three sixes.
• Nasir Khan also made a significant contribution, scoring 31 runs off 83 balls. Faridun Daudzai and Hasan Isakhil added 29 and 20 runs, respectively.

Upcoming Matches: With this thrilling victory, Nepal advances to Group ‘A’ in the Super Six stage, where they are scheduled to face India and two other teams. The upcoming matches promise to be crucial as Nepal continues its journey in the ICC U-19 World Cup, showcasing the nation’s rising cricket talent on the global stage.