KATHMANDU: In a compelling match at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, Nepal establishes early dominance as Afghanistan loses five crucial wickets during the power play.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss at the Buffalo Park Cricket Ground in East London, South Africa, Afghanistan faces a formidable challenge against Nepal’s exceptional bowling performance.

Aakash Chand shines with an extraordinary display of bowling, securing four wickets, while Gulshan Jha adds to the early success by striking a wicket for Nepal.

At 9.1 overs, Afghanistan manages to score 35 runs but loses five wickets in the process.

With Pakistan and New Zealand already securing their spots in the Super Six from Group D with two consecutive victories, the match between Nepal and Afghanistan transforms into a virtual knockout situation.

The victor will secure a coveted spot in the Super Six stage, adding an extra layer of intensity to this U19 Cricket World Cup encounter.

The tournament introduces a new format for this edition, where the top three teams from each of the four groups will progress to a fresh Super Six stage, starting on January 30.

Two groups of six teams will fiercely compete to determine the Semi-Finalists and, subsequently, the Finalists.

Simultaneously, the teams at the bottom will engage in placement games to decide finishing positions ranging from 13 to 16. The stakes are high as Nepal aims to continue its early success in this thrilling cricket spectacle.