NEP vs AFG: U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 - Match Review

Posted on January 27, 2024  •  8 minutes  • 1508 words

NEP vs AFG: U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 - Match Review

Nepal edged out Afghanistan in a fiercely contested match in the U19 Cricket World Cup 2024. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the match, player performances, and key moments.

Here is the scorecard for the match from ESPN Cricinfo.

Early Thoughts

• Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first.
• Nepal began their bowling innings with great intensity, highlighted by Akash Chand’s fiery opening spell which left Afghanistan reeling at 35/5.
• Afghanistan’s lower order, particularly Ghazanfar, Naseer Khan, and Fareed Dawoodzai, counterattacked effectively, stabilizing their innings after early setbacks.

Match Summary

Nepal put in a commendable effort to keep Afghanistan under pressure throughout the game. However, the Afghan lower order showcased resilience, putting up a strong partnership for the ninth wicket. Nepal’s chase faltered with quick wickets early on, and despite some promising starts, they couldn’t build a sustained innings to reach the target. However, a captain’s knock from Dev Khanal and another resilient showing from the lower-order helped Nepal over the line with a scrappy but memorable win. They are into the Super Sixes with the win.

Player Ratings

Bipin Rawal (3/10)

• Safe hands for the Taniwal’s edge off Chand’s bowling to bring about the second wicket in the second over.
• But a couple of fumbles when the early pacers were bowling. Dropped a chance off Chand’s bowling that would have carried to first slip.
• Watchful batting against Ghazanfar. But could not get going against the other bowler as well. Trapped in front by a superb yorker from Khalil Ahmed. Departs for 2 leaving Nepal in early trouble.

Arjun Kumal (4/10)

• Made some excellent stops in the field and almost effected a run-out.
• Looked calm and composed early on and played a couple of decent shots for four.
• Got out, bowled on 10 as he chopped the ball onto his stumps. Could not provide the assured start that Nepal were hoping for and gave Afg an early opening.

Gulshan Jha (4/10)

• Gets a wicket in the first over to get Nepal up and running.
• Hattrick of wides in his sixth consecutive overs. Looked a little tired by the end of his spell.
• Consistently keeps bowling effort balls but has been slightly unlucky this tournament.
• Came in at #3 to take charge of the batting innings. Got a free-hit on his third ball of the innings but failed to make contact.
• Creamed a couple of shots straight to the point fielder. Got bowled with a peach of an inswinging delivery on the third ball of Ahmad’s over.
• Hard to have done much more against a great delivery.
• The move to bring him up the order fails for Nepal, leaving them 15/2.
• While the move failed this time, it holds promise for a long Gulshan-Dev partnership in the Super Sixes.

Dev Khanal (8.5/10)

• Safe hands for a couple of catches and was spot-on with his bowling changes.
• Creamed the first ball he faced to the offside for four runs.
• Almost got out the first delivery he faced from Ghazanfar. Dropped by Ghazanfar off his bowling to let him off on 4.
• Capitalized on the let-off and looked to build a long innings. More reserved approach than in previous games, apt for the game situation. Rotated strike well, and scored the odd boundaries.
• Was very vocal with his communication, offering encouragement to Aakash when he batted during the 49-run partnership. Showed his determination.
• Flurry of wickets increased pressure on Dev but he got to his fifty with a four off Ghazanfar.
• Looked like he would get the team home but was undone by a peach of a wrongun from Ghazanfar that kissed the outside edge of his bat and was gobbled by the keeper.
• Nervously watched on from the dugout as the tailenders strived to win the game for the team.
• Played a true captain’s knock that will live long in the memory of Nepal fans.
• Getting the team home with his bat was the icing on the cake that was not to be.

Aakash Tripathi (5.5/10)

• Great diving stop early in the fielding innings. Did not (need to) bowl today.
• Came in at #5 with Nepal in early trouble at 24/3. Watchful start. Rotated the strike decently against spinners.
• Did well to stay with Dev for a 49-run partnership. Got out against the run of play hitting one straight to the cover fielder.
• Important member of the team and a trusted top-order batter, but has lost his wickets early or cheaply all tournament.

Deepak Dumre (3/10)

• Safe hands for the skier to bring the first wicket.
• Came in after a big partnership, at #6, but looked at sea against the legspinner from the start.
• Got lucky a couple of times but eventually edged a sharp catch to slip on 5.

Dipesh Kandel (6/10)

• Introduced late in the twenty-first over due to the long spells of seamers. Struck fourth ball to trap Momand lbw.
• Broke the crucial ninth wicket partnership with a clever change of angle to dismiss the opposition captain, caught and bowled.
• Came in to bat at #7, and smacked a ball for four over mid-on to provide some counterattacking impetus.
• Then got trapped in front trying to play square of the wicket on the on-side against a straight full one on the stumps.

Dipak Bohara (6.5/10)

• Came in lower than usual at #8 after a flurry of wickets, and looked to punish any bad balls from the spinners.
• Scored counterattacking fours straight down the ground, over midwicket, and with an edge past the first slip early on.
• Built a 36-run partnership with Dev to edge Nepal in front.
• Was building a decent partnership with Subash when he got done all ends up by a slower yorker from Dawoodzai.
• Second highest score with the bat for the Nepal innings oulines his contribution to the win.

Subash Bhandari (8/10)

• Accurate & economical with the ball, hard to put away but did not cause huge problems for the batsmen.
• Wrapped up the bowling innings with the final wicket. Enticed the batsman with a wider, fuller ball that was skied towards mid-off and caught by Dev.
• So so assured with the bat that it is unbelievable that he bats down at #9.
• Absorbs the batting pressure and hits the winning runs for the team.
• Yet again at the centre when Nepal finish their batting innings.

Akash Chand (9.5/10)

• What a bowling performance from him again!
• Strikes first over to take the outside edge of the bat to build on Gulshan’s great start.
• Found some swing early on, bowled full and fast, and reaped rewards. Consistently at the batsmen.
• What an opening spell that got him a fifer with no batsmen able to get on top of him. Bowled seven overs on the fly.
• From his aggression to his celebrations, he has been wonderful to watch this tournament.
• Outstanding opening spell, taking a fifer with consistent swing and pace.
  • 1st wicket: caught by the keeper.
  • 2nd wicket: bowled.
  • 3rd wicket: chipped to mid-on.
  • 4th wicket: LBW.
  • 5th wicket: chipped to mid-off.
• Has batted well this tournament but got done by a deceptive slower ball from Dawoodzai.
• Hitting the winning runs for the team would have completed his fairytale outing but was not to be.

Tilak Raj Bhandari (5/10)

• Called in to bowl to neutralize the Ghazanfar batting threat. Instead welcomed with a mammoth six. Then conceded a streaky, edged four.
• But got his man with the third ball that he bowled away from the batsman who slashes a looping catch to the point fielder.
• Provides the edge that legspinners usually do with the ball.
• That Buddha celebration after dismissing Ghazanfar will surely make some headlines.
• Had to come in to bat at #11, but solely to watch from the non-strikers end as Subash hit the winning runs.

Key Takeaways from NEP vs AFG

• Bowling Brilliance: Nepal’s bowlers showcased exceptional performances, particularly Akash Chand, who secured a five-wicket haul with his lethal swing and disciplined line and length. Gulshan Jha, Dipesh Kandel, and Subash Bhandari also contributed significantly to restricting Afghanistan’s batting.

• Catching and Fielding: Improved fielding performance was evident, though a couple of missed opportunities highlighted areas for continued focus. Notable contributions from players like Deepak Dumre and Subash Bhandari added to the overall effort.

• Captain’s Knock: Dev Khanal’s leadership shone through with a composed innings under pressure, guiding Nepal to a hard-fought victory. His tactical acumen and batting prowess were instrumental in securing the win.

• Finally Some Middle-Order Resilience: Dev Khanal held the innings together with a determined half-century, supported by Aakash Tripathi and Dipak Bohara, who played crucial roles in steadying the innings and constructing the chase.

• Subash Bhandari’s Consistency: Subash Bhandari’s all-round performance was a standout, showcasing his ability to hold up an end with the ball while also providing crucial runs in the lower order to see Nepal through to victory.

• Areas for Improvement: Better execution in rotating the strike during middle overs and handling pressure situations with composure are key areas for Nepal to address moving forward.