Sports
Nepal crash out of quarters
Nepal crashed out from the ICC U-19 World Cup losing to hosts Bangladesh by six wickets in the quarter-final match in Mirpur on Friday.Nepal crashed out from the ICC U-19 World Cup losing to hosts Bangladesh by six wickets in the quarter-final match in Mirpur on Friday.
Electing to bat first, Nepal scored 211-9 thanks largely to a solid 80-ball 72 from skipper Raju Rijal. Bangladesh struggled in their chase before a match-winning 117-run unbroken stand between Zakir Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz guided Bangladesh to 215-4 in 48.2 overs.
Spinner Sunil Dhamala struck early in the game removing opener Saif Hassan (five) with just 17 runs on board. Pinak Ghosh (32) stuck to the crease before he was run out in the 20th over at 63-2. Ghosh’s dismissal brought Nazmul Hossain Santo, who averaged 200 in the tournament before the game, but leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane removed the dangerous batsman, forcing him for a return catch for eight.
Dhamala struck again to get rid of Joyraz Sheik reducing Bangladesh to 98-4 in the 29th over. Zakir and Mehedi were steadying the ship, dealing in singles and doubles and Lamichhane produced yet another opportunity to break the partnership. The leg spinner forced Mehedi, who was then batting on 25, to step up creating a stumping chance only for Rijal to miss the ball.
After the reprieve, Mehedi glued to the crease and together with Zakir took the game away from Nepal. Zakir remained unbeaten on 75 off 77 with five fours and a six, while Mehedi made 55 off 61 with three hits to the fence. Rijal rued his side’s inability to put up a bigger total.
“The four run-outs and the loss of five wickets in the middle overs cost us at least 25-30 runs. If we had got those runs we would have fought till the end. But I am proud of the way the team played in the tournament. Our aim is to finish with a good placing,” said the captain.
Nepal’s innings revolved around Rijal’s sublime innings and three crucial run outs, the skipper himself was one of them. They lost opener Sandeep Sunar (seven) and Yogendra Karki (one) at 19-2 in 6.1 overs. Rijal then put on a 44-run stand with another opener Dhamala, who made 25 off 62 with two boundaries before a mix-up with his captain cost him his wicket.
Aarif Sheikh stepped in and shared 51 runs for the fourth wicket with Rijal. At a time when it seemed Nepal were going to build on a strong stand, Sheikh lost his cool and attacked Mohammad Shaifuddin only to hole out an easy catch at deep midwicket. He made 21 off 32 with two boundaries.
Rijal, however, kept going strong but Nepal were left shell shocked after the skipper was involved in a terrible mix up with new man Rajbir Singh losing his wicket at 146-5 in the 34th over. Rijal’s innings was studded with eight fours and a six but runs dried up after his dismissal.
Dipendra Singh Airee (22), Prem Tamang (22 not out) and Kushal Bhurtel (14)—also a victim to run out—helped the team cross 200-run mark. Shaifuddin picked up 2-38 from 10 overs for Bangladesh. Nepal will now play the fifth place playoff semi-final against winner of Monday’s quarter-final match between Pakistan and West Indies.