KATHMANDU, Aug 13: Nepal has started its ICC U-19 World Cup campaign with a crushing defeat after it lost its opening match of the tournament to host Australia by 212 runs at the Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville, on Monday.
Sent in to take strike first in the match played at the Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville, Australia posted a huge 294-run total at the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs. In reply Nepal was bundled out for a meager 82 runs in 23.5 overs. [break]
Faced with a stiff target, Nepal never looked in the hunt against the Test playing nation. Nepal had an 11-run opening stand but lost three quick wickets at the same score, with Australian bowler Harry Conway sending opener Pradip Airee, one down Naresh Budayair and skipper Prithu Baskota back to pavilion in succession.
Another opener Subash Khakurel (12 off 29 balls) fell to Gurinder Sandhu in the ninth over leaving Nepal precariously placed at 21/4. It was the 42-run fifth wicket partnership between Sagar Pun (22 off 39 balls) and (21 off 29 balls) that offered some resistance to the fiery Australian attack.
But once both the batsmen were out off AshtonTurner bowling, Nepal headed to a certain crushing defeat. Hasim Ansari scored 13 off 16 balls before being clean bowled by Alex Gregory in the 21st over with 78 runs on board.
Nepal lost the remaining four wickets for only four runs, ensuring Australia, which defeated England in its first match, a cent percent winning results in the two matches it contested so far.
Turner was the most successful Australian bowler, picking four Nepali wickets in his 5.5 overs. Conway grabbed three wickets while Gregory accounted for the dismissals of two Nepali batsmen. Sandhu took one wicket. Australia conceded 9 runs as extras.
Earlier, Australian opener and man of the match Cameron Brancroft scored a scintillating 125 off 139 balls that included seven fours and two sixes. He shared a massive 160-run partnership with number three Kurtis Patterson, who scored 87-ball 86 including five boundaries and two sixes. [break]
Nepal’s Rahul BK and Pradip Airee grabbed two wickets each. Likewise, Avinash Karn, Krishna Karki and Bhuwan Karki took one wicket apiece. Nepal conceded 13 runs as extras.Nepal will next play Ireland on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies win
In other matches played in the day, Sri Lanka crushed Namibia by 195 runs. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 298 losing nine wickets in 50 over. Namibila was all out for 105 in 35 overs.
Likewise, Pakistan defeated Scotland by nine wickets. Electing to take strike, Scotland scored 200 runs in 49.5 overs, which Pakistan overcame in 36.2 over losing only one wicket. Babar Azam scored 106 runs for Pakistan.
Also West Indies outplayed Papua New Guinea by nine wickets. Batting first, PNG was all out for 116 in 41 overs. West Indies achieved the victory target losing one wicket in just 11.4 overs. S Ambris clobbered 91 off just 43 balls including nine fours and seven sixes.
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