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

Posted on February 1, 2024  •  6 minutes  • 1223 words

NEP vs BAN: U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 - Match Analysis

Nepal faced a formidable challenge against Bangladesh in the U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, Super Sixes round and were beaten comprehensively by the 2020 champions. Despite an underwhelming batting display, the match had moments of brilliance and lessons to take forward. Here’s the analysis of the match, player performances, and key takeaways.

Here is the scorecard for the match from ESPN Cricinfo .

Early Thoughts

• Nepal won the toss and opted to bat first but struggled against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack.
• Early wickets, particularly within the powerplay, left Nepal in a precarious position.
• Bangladesh pacers bowled excellent short balls, tying Nepal down during the powerplay and building early pressure.
• Nepal found it difficult to rotate the strike against Bangladesh spinners in the middle overs.
• Wicketkeeping errors by Bangladesh gave Nepal a reprieve, avoiding further collapses during the innings.

Player Ratings

Arjun Kumal (3/10)

• Couple of crisp backfoot drives in the first over. But looked a little troubled with balls into the body.
• Got out to a bouncer directed at the body which he ramped straight to the deep third man fielder. Not the first time that he has got out to this shot. Needs to inspect the bat angle when he plays that shot.
• A promising start to the tourney is now followed by a few early dismissals.
• Came in to bowl the last over with BAN needing 2 runs.

Bipin Rawal (3/10)

• Missed out on a free-hit early on, but looked to play his shots. Swung and caught thin air a few times early on against the outswinger.
• Went for a big expansive drive against the outswinger but edged meekly to first slip. Did not need him to go this aggressive this early.
• Departed for 2(12) and continued the trend of the openers departing too early in the innings.
• Effected a sharp stumping off Subash Bhandari’s bowling. Looked sharp behind the stumps.

Aakash Tripathi (2.5/10)

• Continued his poor form with the bat. Lacking in intent and departed cheaply after lobbing a full toss straight to the mid-off fielder.
• Not required to bowl today. Hasn’t had a bowl in the last few games.

Dev Khanal (5/10)

• Again came in during the powerplay in a pressure situation and was watchful on his end.
• Looked for runs after the powerplay and played more expansive shots after over 15.
• Looked comfortable on the backfoot playing the short-pitched balls unlike the other top-order batsmen.
• Looked primed to perform and then chipped a hit-me ball straight to the short cover fielder. Has been his story of the tournament.
• Lots of promising starts but lacking in patience and temperament that makes a good ODI batsman.
• Bowled a solitary over when the game was essentially lost and conceded 11 runs.
• Has grown into his captaincy in the tourney. Promises big with the bat, but has failed to deliver to his maximum.

Bishal Bikram KC (6/10)

• In at #5, and looked decent enough in his first start of the tournament.
• Looked to build a partnership with Dev in a support role, but could have done more with the rotation of strike to reduce the scoreboard pressure.
• Played a release shot in the 22nd over against Jibon. Uppishly drove past mid-on for four. Outside edge in the same over that brought him more runs.
• Aggressive shot in 26.4 balloons towards long-on, who cannot complete the catch and instead gifted him a 4.
• Survived a missed stumping at 27.2. After Dev departed, he played some aggressive shots and looked to improve his strike rate.
• Identified the midwicket region against the off-spinners to target during overs 31-40.
• A fighting innings of 48(100) came to an end after a good delivery from Borson. But this should be enough to keep him in the team for the India game.
• Early on during the fielding, missed catch of the dangerous Jishan that could have changed the complexion of the chase.

Gulshan Jha (3/10)

• In at #6 and very watchful in the beginning. Definitely looked to have lost his normally confident approach to batting.
• Dropped by the keeper while on 0, giving him a second life.
• But could not take any advantage as he was bowled by the off-spinner Jibon while trying to slog him away to midwicket. Dismissed for 3(16).
• The shot selection told a story of him needing more runs to bolster his confidence.
• During the bowling innings, unlucky to not get an early wicket due to a dropped catch.
• But once Jishan laid into him, did not have a proper comeback to shut him up.

Dipak Bohora (2/10)

• In at #7, Dipak could not rotate the strike against the spinners.
• Played down the wrong line of an offspinner that turned in sharply and bowled him for 3(11).

Dipesh Kandel (3/10)

• In at #8, Dipesh also looked unsure against the spinners on a turning wicket and eventually feathered one to the keeper.
• During the bowling innings, missed a return catch off his own bowling against Shibli. Eventually ended up wicketless in the game.

Subash Bhandari (9/10)

• In at #9, he stayed not out, rotated the strike well.
• Looks to have the ability to protect his wicket unlike many other top order batsmen, so a gamble to bring him up the order might be worthwhile.
• Takes a fifer against the run of play in the second innings. His control and canniness make up for the lack of turn in his bowling.
• Helped by good field placements from the captain.
• Took the first wicket, caught. Tempted Rizwan who charged him and was done in flight, stumped. Got the third wicket by enticing the batsman with a wider ball from round the wicket, caught by long-off coming in. 4th wicket, bowled, as the batsman misread length. Fifth wicket, caught at mid-off.
• Gun-fielder at point, looks better than anyone else there.

Akash Chand (2/10)

• A game to forget for Akash immediately after a game for the ages.
• Came in to bat at #10 and was trapped lbw first ball. Targeted by BAN batsmen where he conceded 42 runs in 3 overs in the bowling innings. Was not helped by a missed catch at point by Deepak Bohora.
• Struggled under conditions with less swing. Could not use the bouncers to keep the batsmen in check like in previous games.

Durgesh Gupta (4.5/10)

• In at #11 and looked to stay with Subash until the end. Absolutely smoked a six over midwicket to bring about Nepal’s first six of the innings.
• Got out top edging a hoick into the same area in the penultimate ball of the innings.
• Bowled a decent economical spell at the beginning of the innings in contrast to the other bowlers. But did not look to trouble the batsmen a lot.

Key Takeaways

• Top-Order Struggles: Nepal’s top-order needs to address their consistent inability to build a solid foundation, particularly against quality pace attacks and the bouncing ball.
• Rotation of Strike: The inability to rotate the strike effectively against spinners remains a glaring weakness.
• Resilient Lower Order: Subash Bhandari and Durgesh Gupta provided late resistance, ensuring Nepal batted almost their entire quota of overs.
• Bowling Positives: Nepal’s bowlers, especially Subash Bhandari, showed promise with disciplined spells and a five-wicket haul.
• Fielding Concerns: Missed opportunities in the field continue to plague Nepal and need urgent attention in future matches.