Nepal’s U-19 Cricket World Cup journey took a rough turn as they suffered a 64-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening Group D match at Buffalo Park. Chasing a challenging target of 303 runs, Nepal managed 238-9 in their allotted 50 overs.
Opener Arjun Kumal stood out with a notable knock of 90 runs, facing 104 balls and smashing 12 boundaries. Captain Dev Khanal contributed 36 runs off 34 balls, forming a crucial 59-run partnership with Kumal for the third wicket.
Despite Kumal’s efforts, Nepal’s middle order struggled against New Zealand’s pace, with the team losing wickets in quick succession. Kumal, who was dropped three times, fell short of a century, getting dismissed at 176-8.
In the bowling department, New Zealand’s Mason Clarke was the standout performer, claiming 3-25, supported by Ewald Schreuder (2-54) and Oscar Jackson (2-25).
Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat first and posted a competitive total of 302-8 in 50 overs. Snehith Reddy’s unbeaten century (147* off 147 balls) and Jackson’s 75-run contribution formed a pivotal 157-run partnership for the fourth wicket, steering New Zealand’s innings.
Nepal’s Subash Bhandari took three wickets, while Gulsan Jha, Tilak Bhandari, Aakash Tripathi, and Dipesh Kandel picked up one wicket each.
Despite the setback, Nepal managed to play out the full 50 overs, with Subash Bhandari (33* not out) and Tilak Bhandari (17) showing resilience against the New Zealand bowling attack.
This defeat marks a challenging start for Nepal in the U-19 Cricket World Cup, emphasizing the need for a strong comeback in the upcoming matches.
