KATHMANDU: Nepal gears up to face India in the second match of the Super Six ICC U-19 World Cup cricket tournament.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 1:45 pm at the Bloemfontein Stadium in South Africa.
For Nepal, this game is their final chance to leave a mark, having been eliminated from the World Cup semi-final contention two matches prior to the Super Six.
In the inaugural Super Six match, Nepal faced a setback against Bangladesh, losing by 5 wickets on Wednesday.
Bangladesh chased down Nepal’s target of 170 runs, with Subas Bhandari’s memorable bowling performance securing five crucial wickets.
Despite Bishal Bikram KC’s top-scoring 48 runs and Captain Dev Khanal’s 35 runs, the rest of the batting lineup failed to deliver.
Nepal’s journey in the World Cup began with a 64-run defeat to New Zealand in the group stage, followed by a 5-wicket loss to Pakistan.
However, a triumphant last group stage match against Afghanistan secured Nepal’s spot in the Super Six, winning by a narrow one-wicket margin.
Today, Nepal faces India in their final World Cup tour match, presenting a formidable challenge.
Recent encounters with India have not been favorable, as just two months ago, Nepal suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the Asia Cup, being bowled out for a mere 52 runs.
This marks the third meeting between Nepal and India in the U-19 World Cup.
The first encounter, in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2000, saw India bundling out Nepal for 101 runs, ultimately winning by eight wickets.
The second clash occurred in the 2016 World Cup held in Bangladesh, where Nepal batted first but India chased down the target of 170 runs in 18.1 overs, winning by seven wickets.
As Nepal seeks redemption, today’s match against India is crucial, with the outcome holding significant implications for their U-19 World Cup journey.
India stands as the most successful team in the history of the ICC U-19 World Cup, securing the prestigious title a remarkable five times.
Following closely are Australia with three titles and Pakistan with two titles.
A handful of nations have clinched the U-19 World Cup trophy once, showcasing the global diversity of cricket talent.
Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies, and England have each celebrated victory in this prestigious tournament, adding their names to the esteemed list of champions.
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