KATHMANDU: In the final game of the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 group stage, Nepal bowled out Afghanistan for 145.
After winning the toss in East London, South Africa, Afghanistan opted to bat and were bowled out for 145 in 40.1 overs. Afghanistan set a target of 146 runs against Nepal.
In the match, Nepal’s Aakash Chand showcased an outstanding bowling performance, taking 5 wickets for 34 runs in 8 overs.
With this, Aakash became the fourth-highest wicket-taker for Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup, surpassing his own previous record.
Prior to this, Rahul Bishwakarma had taken 6 wickets for 3 runs against Papua New Guinea in 2012, which was Nepal’s best bowling performance in the U-19 World Cup.
Nepal made an excellent start, claiming two wickets in the first two overs.
Gulshan Jha took the first wicket in the fourth ball of the first over, dismissing Afghan opener Numan Shah for a duck.
In the second over, Aakash got the second breakthrough by dismissing Khalid Taniwal for zero with a wicketkeeper catch by Bipin Rawal.
Dipesh Kandel took two wickets for Nepal, while Subhas Bhandari, Tilak Bhandari, and Gulshan Jha took one wicket each.
To enter the Super Six, both teams need a win.
Earlier, Nepal had suffered defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in both group matches.
The top three teams from each group will play in the Super Six, and the top two teams from both groups will qualify for the semifinals.
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