Rahul Biswokarma picked up four wickets in final over as Nepal registered a nervous 12-run win over hosts Ireland in the U-19 World Cup Qualifiers.
Nepal celebrate victory over Ireland. Photo Courtesy: CricketEurope.com
Afghanistan, PNG, Scotland and USA also registered wins on the seventh day of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Ireland.
On a day when rains affected all but one game, plenty of action was witnessed as the jostling for the final six spots to qualify for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup to be held next year in Australia heated up.
Hosts Ireland featured in another last over finish, this time against Nepal at the Bready Cricket Club. Nepal batted first and was restricted to 187 for seven in 46 overs as rains forced reduction in the number of overs. Ireland skipper George Dockrell picked up 3-15 even as Sagar Pun made 50 off 100 balls with three boundaries and a six.
In the chase, the home team lost early wickets, but Dockrell (55: 86b, 3×4) and Adam Coughlan (48:86b, 1×4) added 107 runs for the fifth wicket.
Once the partnership was broken, the chase fell apart. Nepal’s left-arm spinner Rahul picked up four wickets in the final over to bowl out Ireland for 175 and earned his side a 10-run win.
Dockrell’s all-round effort earned him the Man of the Match award, but the skipper was a disappointed man: “We bowled well to restrict them, but they got a few runs towards the end which helped them a lot. The match was in the balance and we seemed to be getting close. But we lost wickets towards the end. We still have two more games to end the tournament well.”
Nepal U19 187 for seven, 46 overs (Pun 50, Vishvakarma 38; Dockrell 3-15, Getkate 2-14) beat Ireland U19 175 all out, 46 overs (Dockrell 55, Coughlan 48; Vishvakarma 4-28, A Karn 2-25) by 12 runs.