The Nepalese U19 team has bundled out Afghanistan U19 for a mere total in the last group-stage match of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024. The decision to elect to bat first backfired Afghanistan as they were bowled out for 145 in 40.1 overs.
This is a do-or-die contest for both Nepal and Afghanistan as the winner will book a spot in the super-six stage. Both Nepal and Afghanistan were beaten by New Zealand and Pakistan in their previous two matches.
Nepalese pacers were on fire early on. Especially Aakash Chand who became the fourth bowler and first pacer to pick up a five-wicket haul for Nepal in U19 World Cup. Gulshan Jha dismissed Numan Shah (0) in the first over and Aakash Chand sent back Khalid Taniwal (0) in the second over as Afghanistan were 2/2 after the second over. Chand then picked up the next four wickets to complete his fifer. Afghanistan were in a pitiful situation of 43/6 in the 12th over.
Allah Ghazanfar then came and smacked 21-ball 37 outta nowhere. He smacked four sixes and three sixes before being dismissed by Tilak Bhandari. Dipesh Kandel followed with a wicket in his first over. Afghanistan added a crucial 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Skipper Naseer Khan scored an anchoring 31 runs. Faridoon Dawoodzai made 29 runs before being dismissed as the last wicket.
For Nepal Aakash Chand (8-0-34-5) was the pick of a bowler. Dipesh Kandel picked up two wickets whilst Subash Bhandari, Gulshan Jha and Tilak Bhandari grabbed one wicket each.
