Published: Feb 01, 2016, 01:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 01, 2016, 03:02 PM (IST)
India thrashed Nepal by seven wickets in the 18th match of the ongoing ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at Dhaka on Monday. Sarfraz Khan and Arman Jaffer remained unbeaten on 15 and 13 respectively to chase down Nepal’s target of 170 with 29.5 overs remaining. However, it was the Indian openers Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan who did most of the job for India earlier in the innings. They smashed the Nepal bowlers all over the park as they went on built a stand worth of 124 runs off just 9.1 overs before wicketkeeper-batsman Pant was dismissed by Prem Tamang. Pant now holds the record of Under-19 World Cup’s fastest fifty off just 18 deliveries. FULL SCORECARD: India vs Nepal, match NO. 18 of ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
Pant was on 48 and he brought up a superb half-century with a boundary in the next ball. His knock of 78 off 24 balls which lasted for 37 minutes was inclusive of five sixes and nine fours. Meanwhile, Indian skipper who went off the field in the first innings after a small injury was impressive as well with the bat. He scored 52 runs from 40 balls which showed there was no scare of a serious injury for him. The first dismissal brought in Ricky Bhui on crease joining Kishan in the middle. Despite the loss, Nepal along with India have progressed to the quarter-final.
However, Nepal hit back strong Tamang made another breakthrough. He removed Bhui on the last delivery of the 12th over, leaving India at 142 for 2. India’s rocketed innings was slowed down here, when Sandeep Lamichhane struck in the very next delivery. He bagged the big wicket of the Indian skipper. Kishan walked back, but the damage was already done. From here, India were just 28 runs away from a victory with the likes of Sarfraz Khan, Arman Jaffer, Washington Sundar and Mahipal Lomror still in line to bat. READ: Is Nepal Under-19 Captain Raju Rijal Actually 25?
Earlier, India won the toss and put Nepal to bat first. Nepal were restricted to 169 for 8 in 48 overs after the match was reduced to those many overs due to fog. The wickets were shared between Indian bowlers Avesh Khan, Mayank Dagar and Washington Sundar, two wickets each for three of them and Avesh bagged three wickets. While an excellent effort from Arman Jaffer and Rishabh Pant behind the wickets got Dipendra Singh Airee run out, leaving Nepal at 99 for 6 in 34.2 overs.
Brief Scores:
Nepal 168 for 8 (Sandeep Sunar 37; Avesh Khan 3 for 34) lose to India 175 for 3 (Rishabh Pant 78, Ishan Kishan 52; Prem Tamang 2 for 41) by 7 wickets.
