KATHMANDU: Nepal has qualified for the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024 to be played in Sri Lanka.
In its final match of the Asian Qualifier played in Ajman on Thursday, Nepal earned a memorable victory, defeating UAE by 7 runs.
This is the second time that Nepal has qualified for the U-19 World Cup. In the 2016 World Cup held in Bangladesh, Nepal made it to the quarterfinals.
Batting first, Nepal folded for 191 runs losing all wickets in 48.5 overs. Captain Dev Khanal and Uttam Thapa Magar rescued Nepal after it lost Nepal lost first three wickets cheaply. While Khanal scored 51 runs off 84 balls, Magar chipped in 36 runs. Bishal Bikram KC scored 38 runs. Other Nepali batsmen failed to make significant contribution.
Dhruv Parashar took three wickets for UAE, while Harit Harish Shetty and Aayan Afzal Khan each had two Nepali wickets to their name. Harshit Sheth and Ammar Badami took one wicket each for the home side.
In response, UAE’s middle order collapsed despite an impressive opening stand. Openers Aryan Saxena and Aryansh Sharma scored 34 and 32 runs, respectively. Except middle order batsmen Ethan D’Souza, who scored 50 runs from 66 balls, other failed to make significant contribution for their side.
Dipesh Kandel took five wickets for Nepal, including a hattrick in the last three balls of the 48th over, to earn Nepal a hard-fought victory. Hemant Dhami and Subash Bhandari took two wickets each.
Both UAE and Nepal had won their four previous games in the qualifier. With this victory against the UAE, Nepal ended the qualifier winning all five matches.
