Monthly Archives: August 2012

Rahul Biswokarma’s brilliant bowling ensured Nepal 13th position in the ICC U19 World Cup and a victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) by six wickets to end the tournament in a positive note. Rahul claimed 6 wickets for 3 runs – the best bowling figure in the tournament to bowl out PNG for 89 in 33.1 over. Nepal achieved the target in 18.5 overs losing four wickets.

Nepal finally registered a victory at the ICC U19 World Cup with a 39-run win over Namibia in the 13th Place Playoff Semifinal. It needed two records – the best batting and bowling performances by Nepali players – for the first victory in the tour, where Nepal’s incompetence has frustrated fans.

Nepal’s lack of competence at the ICC U19 World Cup continued as Test-nation Sri Lanka walked away with an easy 8-wicket victory in the Plate Championships quarterfinals. Nepal was bowled out for 79 in 27.3 overs – it’s second lowest total in U19 WCs after 74 against West Indies in 2006 Plate Final. Sri Lanka needed just 20.4 overs to conquer the victory.

A hat-trick of losses ensued as England outplayed Nepal by 127 runs in the final first-round match of the ICC U19 World Cup in Australia. However, the loss was not what worried the Nepali cricket fans, rather it’s loss of flickers of brilliance in the team that had in past regularly beaten Test nations at the event.

If Nepal had any hopes of making into the Super League of the ICC U19 World Cup after a 212-run defeat in the hands of the hosts Australia, it rested on an act of beating Ireland and giant-killing England. However, it was Ireland who turned the tables upside down. Avenging the loss they had suffered at home during the Qualifiers for the U19 World Cup, Ireland beat Nepal by 14 runs. If you consider that’s was a close margin, you surely hadn’t followed the match live. It was a defeat that was bigger than the margin.

In a day when no Associate nations could impress, heavyweight Australia thrashed Nepal by 212 runs on the third day of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 in Queensland, Australia, on Monday. Before the ESPN STAR Sports HD cameras at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, Australia romped to a impressive victory over Nepal, thanks to a century by opener Cameron Bancroft and a hat-trick by paceman Harry Conway.

Cricket Nepal’s Australia representative Sudin Pokharel had an opportunity to chat with Nepali captain Prithu Baskota about the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Australia. Excerpts:

Nepal captain Prithu Baskota is daring to dream ahead of ICC U19 Cricket World Cup clash against Australia. The ICC Associate nation begins its campaign with a fixture against the host nation at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville. And although it will enter the match as rank outsiders, Baskota believes his side can produce a stunning upset.

Three-time defending champion Australia and 1998 winner England are favourites to progress to the Super League stage from Group A of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012, which will be staged in Queensland, Australia, from 11 to 26 August. However, both the Full Member countries will need to be on top of their games and cannot afford to be complacent in the presence of Nepal and Ireland in their group.

New Zealand was made to work hard by Nepal before winning its ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 warm-up match by 19 runs in Brisbane. Captain Will Young stroked a fine 97 to lift New Zealand to 267-8 in 50 overs but Naresh Budayair led Nepal’s spirited fight back and slammed an excellent 114 as his side finished at 248-9 in 50 overs.

Papua New Guinea U-19 defeated Nepal U-19 by eight wickets on Tuesday in a warm-up match before the U-19 Cricket World Cup. Nepal elected to bat at the Albury Oval, Brisbane and put up 213 runs losing all the wickets in 43.3 overs but PNG met the target in 40.3 overs losing only two wickets. PNG opener Lega Siaka (106 runs off 112 balls) put up a 77-run partnership with his opening partner Vagi Oala (35 runs off 68 balls) and shared 126-run second wicket partnership with Christopher Kent (unbeaten 55 runs off 54 balls). Siaka hit 11 boundaries and four sixes before Rahul Vishvakarma claimed his wicket. Vishvakarma had claimed the wicket of Oala too. Nepali pacers Krishna Karki… Read More

Two of Nepal’s first round matches of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup will be televised live, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC) which released umpires’ appointments for warm-up and first round matches. Nepal vs Australia on August 13 and Nepal vs England on August 16 will be broadcast live by ICC’s broadcast partner ESPN Star Sports.

Nepali umpire Buddhi Pradhan is one of the officials named for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Australia to be held from August 11 to 26. Pradhan will officiate two practice matches – Zimbabwe vs Namibia & South Africa vs Bangladesh – on August 7 and 8 and three first round matches – Pakistan vs Afghanistan (Aug 11), Pakistan vs Scotland (Aug 13), Scotland vs Afghanistan (Aug 15) – in the U19 World Cup.

Nepal U19, preparing for the ICC U19 Youth World Cup, registered a 255-run victory over Kormilda College in a practice match in Darwin, Australia. Nepal scored 358/8 in 50 overs and bowled out Kormilda for 103.