BY DEVENDRA SUBEDI, COLOMBO
Yashwant Subedi could have become a hero by hitting four runs in the last two balls for a remarkable victory against Zimbabwe today at the Colombo Cricket Club . But that wasn’t to be as Gary Balance coolly bowled a dot ball and then bowled him off the last ball for Zimbabwe’s two-run victory.
In one of the most closely-contested games in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, Nepal agonizingly fell three run shorts of victory as Zimbabwe secured its second win to lead Group D. Nepal is not yet practically out of the super league but only a series of favorable results will see the Asian qualifier through. Nepal has the last match against Ireland on February 9.
Nepal needed just seven runs for victory off the last over and had three wickets in hands. Yashwant got a single off the first ball followed by a couple by Ratan Rauniyar. Ratan tried to slog the ball out of the park and was bowled through his legs. Abhaya Rana was on strike and Nepal needed four runs off three balls. With a single, the fast bowler gave strike to the batsman who was used to playing as an opener hoping that he would get the winning runs, but sadly that didn’t happen.
Earlier, skipper Kanishka Chaugai played a good innings of 78 runs with seven boundaries. Despite losing Mahesh Chhetri to a run out, he partnered Sharad Vesawkar for a 83-run second wicket stand. Sharad was trapped lbw by Ryan Higgins for 38. Paras joined in taking Nepal to 150/2 in 38 overs. The vice-captain then played a rash stroke and got stumped off Cremer – who has played three Tests for Zimbabwe.
Prem Chaudhary disappointed and was caught behind off a Cremer googly trying to cut the first ball he faced. Gyanendra Malla followed Prem and Kanishka was left with an achievable task with a run-rate of just over five needed for victory. With singles not coming from the other end, Kanishka lost patience and got bowled. Yashwant and Basanta Regmi kept Nepal in the hunt before the latter was bowled by skipper Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe spinnners held back Nepal. Led by Cremer and Higgins, they were able to tie down Nepali batsmen. Balance who bowled the last over should get all the credit for the victory as he just gave four runs taking two wickets in the nervous over.
In the morning, Nepal put in Zimbabwe after winning the toss in the grassy pitch and Nepali seamers started well. Amrit who bowled his quota of 10 on a trot took a wicket giving 27 runs. Paras was the best among the Nepali bowlers taking four for just 28 runs. Man of the match Ryan Higgins (74) and Glen Querl (42) resurrected Zimbabwe with a 96-run seventh wicket stand.
Basanta Regmi finished up with a couple of wickets but was expensive giving away 44 runs in 6.5 overs. Abhaya and Ratan, who bowled beautifully, took a wicket each.
“Our spinners did very well to pull this off as 201 was never going to be an easy total to defend,” said Zimbabwe skipper Sean Williams. “Nepal bowled very well but the batsmen were tied down by our spinners.” Kanishka rued the lost opportunity, “We should have easily won the match as it was alive till the last ball.”