Bangladesh was clear favorite to win on their home ground against Nepal, a qualifier team. Any team’s victory would’ve created a piece of history and it turned out that Bangladesh reached the first-ever semifinal of U19 Cricket World Cup with a tense six-wicket victory over Nepal.
Nepal could’ve become the first Associate nation to reach the semifinal – an opportunity now left with Namibia who plays India in second quarterfinals on Saturday.
Nepal elected to bat first and scored 211 for 9 in 50 overs with captain Raju Rijal getting 72 off 80 balls. Bangladesh went down to 98/4 in 28 overs before Zakir Hasan (75 not out) and captain Mehidy Hasan (55 not out) safely rescued the team to register a celebrated victory. The pair added a match-winning partnership of 117 for the unbroken fifth wicket.
Sandeep Lamichhane celebrates his wicket. (c) ICC
Sunil Dhamala took 2 wickets for Nepal while Sandeep Lamichhane claimed a wicket.
For Nepal, it was a heartbreak as there were opportunities seizing which Nepal could’ve won the match, but they were left to blame themselves. While batting, there were four run outs – including that of Raju who was playing very well – and while bowling, wicketkeeping Raju missed an easy chance of stumping Mehidy when he was on 25.
“The four run-outs and the loss of five wickets in the middle overs cost us at least 25-30 runs. If we had got those runs we would have fought till the end,” Raju said after the loss.
Raju Rijal and Rajbir Singh take a run. (c) ICC
Nepal had slipped to 178 for 7 in 43 overs but useful contributions in the end from Dipendra Airee and Prem Tamang, who made 22 apiece, lifted it past the 200-run mark.
Right-arm seamer Mohammad Saifuddin was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, giving away just four runs in the final over to return with figures of 2 for 38.
Bangladesh, mentored by former Australia international Stuart Law, was made to fight hard for runs as Nepal’s bowlers conceded just 21 runs in the first 10 overs.
“It is so exciting to be part of the first Bangladesh team to enter the semi-final of a World Cup,” a jubilant Mehidy said, adding: “I think Nepal played a very good game. They did their best with both bat and ball. They are a very good side that we have beaten today.”
Nepal, however, would celebrate their progress in the tournament, especially as the success of reaching the last 8, second time for Nepal after 2000, came after devastating earthquake and difficult crisis back home.
Raju Rijal (c) ICC
Captain Raju reflected that saying that he is ‘proud of the way the team has played in the tournament. Our aim is to finish with a good placing’.
The best placing Nepal can achieve now is finishing fifth but it’s first target in the tournament would be to try finish better than Namibia, if they lose to India, so to gain automatic qualification to the 2018 U19 Cricket World Cup.
Nepal 211-9, 50 overs (Raju Rijal 72, Dipendra Airee 22, Prem Tamang 22 not out; Mohammad Saifuddin 2-38) lost to Bangladesh 215-4, 48.2 overs (Zakir Hasan 75 not out, Mehidy Hasan 55 not out; Sunil Dhamala 2-33) by 6 wickets at Mirpur.