Having already qualified for quarterfinals, Nepal had nothing to lose against India than a match (and possibly a weaker team in next round), but had a possibility of registering the biggest ever victory at the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup history.
It didn’t happen this time as India taught Nepal a few lessons of cricket by completely thrashing the neighbour by 7 wickets at Mirpur in televised match.
Nepal labored hard to get 169/8 in fog-delayed 48 overs match, and India reached the target in just 18.1 overs losing three wickets.
(c) ICC
Opener Rishabh Pant hit a whirlwind 78 off 24 balls as India topped Group D and captain Islan Kishan got 52. The pair added 124 in just 9.1 overs demolishing Nepali bowling.
Pant smashed five sixes and nine boundaries, while getting his 50 in just 18 balls to record a fastest half-century in the history of under-19 internationals. Pant batted with the almost-cruelty looking dominance on inexperienced Nepali bowlers.
To finish the things off, Sarfaraz Khan, who had two 70-ball 74 in earlier matches, hit a six when just a run was required to seal the win. He remained unbeaten on 21 with Armaan Jaffer (12 not out).
India’s emphatic victory was set-up by fast bowler Avesh Kumar, who claimed three wickets for 34 runs. Mayank Dagar and Washington Sundar supported him well with two wickets each while Nepal batted first after losing the toss.
Nepal lost opener Sunil Dhamala in the first over; and the batting then after looked overly ambitious than basics of cricket to which Nepal has remained patient about. Batsmen played shots not to their ability or skills but to what they are used to seeing on the television screens.
(c) ICC
At the end of 24th over, Nepal was at 66/4 with Sandeep Sunar, who had anchored the innings, gone on 37. Handy contributions from Aarif Sheikh (26), Rajbir Singh (35) and Prem Tamang (29 not out) took Nepal to a respectable total. Nepal had scored 53 off last 10 overs to get to 169/8 in 48 overs.
The Rahul Dravid-coached India topped Group D with an all-win record and now faces the second-placed team from Group A – Bangladesh or Namibia – in the Super League quarter-final in Fatullah on 6 February.
Qualifier Nepal, which knocked out New Zealand from the Super League, awaits the winner of Tuesday’s clash between Bangladesh and Namibia in the quarter-final in Mirpur on 5 February.
Captain Raju Rijal said his team had been taught a lesson on what to expect when playing against superior sides. “The competition in the quarter-finals will obviously be very tough and today’s match was a good experience for us,” said Rijal. “We need to work harder and try and do our best in the remaining games.”
Brief score: Nepal 169-8, 48 overs (Sandeep Sunar 37, Rajbir Singh 35; Avesh Khan 3-34, Mayank Dagar 2-32, Washington Sundar 2-20) lost to India 175-3, 18.1 overs (Rishabh Pant 78, Ishan Kishan 52) by 7 wickets.