Opening seamers grabbed six wickets as Nepal beat Kenya by 6 wickets in the ICC U19 World Cup Qualifiers in Ireland. Afghanistan, Canada, Scotland and USA also registered wins on the day.
Nepal’s bowlers impressed against Kenya. The varied attack of Nepal bowled out Kenya for a meagre 107 in 48.5 overs at the Railway Union Cricket Club. Seamners Avinash Karn (3-27), Krishna Karki (3-27), spinners Bhuvan Karki (2-9) and Rahul Vishvakarma (2-26) shared the wickets for Nepal.
Nepal lost quick wickets, but skipper Prithu Baskota (31 n.o.) calmed frayed nerves to steer to an easy six-wicket win in 19.2 overs.
Karn’s spell earned him the Man of the Match award. Karn was thrilled to have played a part in the win: “Unlike in the subcontinent, the pitches here offer some assistance. It swung a bit and seamed off the surface for me. We wanted to get them for as low a target as possible. It was a tricky chase but the captain got us through.”
Kenya U19 107 all out, 48.5 overs (Karim 40; Karn 3-27, Karki 3-27, Vishvakarma 2-26) lost to Nepal U19 108 for 4, 19.2 overs (Baskota 31 n.o., Budayair 18; Allan 4-38) by six wickets.