Nepal faced a defeat at the hands of Bangladesh by five wickets in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024 Super Six match held in South Africa on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 170 runs for victory, Bangladesh secured the win, losing five wickets in 25.2 overs.
Despite the commendable effort of Nepal’s spinner Subas Bhandari, who claimed five wickets, victory eluded the team. Having opted to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal struggled to post a competitive total, being all out for 169 runs in 49.5 overs. Vishal Vikram KC emerged as the top scorer with 48 runs off 100 balls, supported by Dev Khanal’s 35 runs off 60 balls.
However, the failure of the remaining batsmen left Nepal out of the semi-final race before this crucial encounter. The lack of pressure allowed Nepal to play freely, but mistakes in both batting and bowling against Bangladesh proved costly, leading to a disheartening loss.
Challenges Faced by Nepali Cricket:
1. Shot Ball Woes:
- The persistent challenge of handling short-pitched deliveries haunted Nepalese batsmen as they struggled against Bangladeshi bowlers who capitalized on shots and bouncers. The inability to manage the pressure resulted in poor shot selection, contributing to Nepal’s early downfall.
2. Gulsan Jha’s Struggles:
- Experienced player Gulsan Jha, who has faced formidable teams in recent encounters, failed to make an impact, being dismissed for a mere 3 runs. His inconsistent form has left a void in Nepal’s middle-order batting, making the team more vulnerable.
3. Fast Bowler’s Misfire:
- In conditions where South Africa’s pitch offered bounce assistance, Nepal’s fast bowler failed to capitalize. Gulsan Jha’s wicketless performance added to Nepal’s woes, as the Bangladeshi fast bowlers exploited the conditions to their advantage.
4. Poor Lower-Order Performance:
- The lower-order batsmen, including Gulsan Jha, Deepak Bohra, and Deepesh Kandel, struggled to contribute meaningfully, each getting out for 3 runs. The top and bottom order’s subpar performance in today’s match highlighted the team’s overall batting woes.
5. Lack of Partnerships:
- Apart from the promising 62-run partnership between Dev and Vishal, Nepal failed to build substantial partnerships. Lack of collaboration among the batsmen limited Nepal to a modest total of 169 runs, as wickets tumbled one after another.
6. Absence of Responsibility:
- With nothing to lose, the Nepalese players failed to exhibit responsibility and patience at the crease, resulting in poor shot selection and overall batting performance. Apart from Dev Khanal and Vishal Vikram KC, the lack of responsibility from other players proved detrimental.
As Nepal reflects on this defeat, the team must regroup and address these challenges to bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches. The U-19 World Cup journey continues, and Nepal aims to learn from this setback for a more resilient performance in the matches to come.
