Opener Sagar Pun and Naresh Budhayer struck half centuries as Nepal coasted to a comprehensive 159-run win over Vanuatu in the ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers at the YMCA Cricket Club grounds in Dublin, Ireland today.
Electing to bat first, Nepal amassed 250 runs in 49.3 overs before restricting Vanuatu for 91 in 30.5 overs. It was the third win for Nepal in four league matches. They opened their campaign with a win over formidable opponents Afghanistan on July 28 before suffering a shock defeat against Scotland the very next day. Nepal climbed to third in the 10-team standings after defeating Kenya on Sunday. Top six teams qualify for the U-19 World Cup to be held in Australia.
Misfiring batsman Pun and No 3 batsman Budhayer laid a solid platform for the big total despite losing Faijlur Rahman (five) cheaply to be 27-1 in the sixth over. Pun and Budhayer, however, consolidated the Nepali innings with a 66-run stand for the second wicket.
Pun was unlucky to be run out in the 21st over after scoring 51 from 66 deliveries which included eight hits to the fence.
Budhayer took the reins after the dismissal of Pun and went on to complete a half century. His patient 87-ball innings came to an end exactly at 50 after hitting four boundaries and a six.
Rajesh Pulami (23), Bhuwan Karki (20 not out), skipper Prithu Baskota (18), Suvendu Pandey (14), Avinash Karn (14) and Pradeep Airee (11) all chipped in valuable runs to the Nepali total. Nepal’s total was also boosted by a whopping 44 sundries.
Shem Sala was the pick of the Vanuatu bowlers with 3-49 from nine overs. Jelani Chilia claimed two wickets while Patrick Matautaava, Nalin Nipiko and Jazies Samuel bagged one wicket each.
In reply, Vanuatu were never in contention after losing wickets at regular intervals. Vanuatu batsmen found it hard to score runs against the disciplined Nepali bowling. Karki duo — Bhuwan and Krishna — accounted for the top four Vanuatu batsmen.
Krishna gave Nepal the breakthrough in the eighth over with scoreboard reading 16-1. By the end of the 13th over Vanuatu were reeling at 20-4.
Nipiko fought a lonely battle with an unbeaten 36 runs as the No 5 batsman ran out of partners after the fall of regular wickets at the other end. Nipiko struck four boundaries and a six in his 52-ball knock. Apart from Nipiko, only Samuel (13), Matautaava (13) and Samson Kalworai (11) were able to reach double figure mark for Vanuatu. Spinner Rahul Kumar BK wrapped up the Vanuatu innings, taking four of the last five wickets.
Rahul finished with the figures of 4-26 for Nepal. Krishna claimed three, man-of-the-match Bhuwan took two and skipper Baskota one wicket. Nepal will play Canada in the next match on Wednesday.
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