Nepal does it again; enters finals of plate Championship

February 16, 2006
3 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

The victorious Nepali team. Photo source: icc-cricket.com

The victorious Nepali team. Photo source: icc-cricket.com
Nepal has entered into the finals of the ongoing ICC U-19 world cup cricket plate championship defeating South Africa by two runs on Thursday.
Nepal opted to bat first after winning the toss in the match held at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo and accumulated 214 runs losing 8 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Captain Kaniska Chaugain made the highest 59 runs for Nepal while Gyanendra Malla made 46 runs.

Chaugain’s contribution, his second fifty of the tournament, was crucial in ensuring Nepal more than held their own against their more illustrious opponents.

The opener, playing in his third and final ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup, faced 81 balls in a stay of 106 minutes, hitting six fours and a six during his innings.

Malla made an responsible, unbeaten 46 in 71 balls with six fours, but South Africa’s Malusi Siboto ensured Nepal were unable to break free in the latter stages of their innings.

He picked up 4-47 while the other wicket-taker for South Africa was Brett Thompson with 1-38 and their contributions were vital because opening bowler Craig Alexander was able to bowl just 3.1 overs before leaving the field with a hamstring injury.

Nepal’s fall of wickets was as follows:

1-67 (Chhetri, 13.4 ov), 2-105 (Vesawkar, 23.4 ov), 3-106 (Chaugain, 25.4 ov), 4-116 (Khadka, 29.4 ov), 5-172 (Chaudhary, 43.3 ov), 6-195 (Regmi, 47.2 ov), 7-212 (Subedi, 49.3 ov), 8-214 (Shrestha, 49.6 ov).

In reply South Africa could only muster 212 runs losing 5 wickets in the 50 overs.

Basanta Regmi took three wickets while Amrit Bhattrai took one wicket to ensure Nepal’s victory. P Daneel was run out. D Elgar scored the highest not out 66 runs for the South Africa.

South Africa’s fall of wickets was as follows:

1-39 (Symes, 10.6 ov), 2-92 (Daneel, 23.2 ov), 3-95 (Thompson, 26.2 ov), 4-99 (Levi, 28.3 ov), 5-205 (Ramoo, 48.3 ov).

Nepali team captain Kaniska Chaugain was declared man of the match.

Nepal will clash with New Zealand in the final match on Saturday.

The Plate Championship is the competition for the eight sides that failed to qualify for the Super League and the winners will be able to call themselves the ninth-ranked team in the tournament.

Nepal did not get entry into Super League after England defeated Nepal by 77 runs in the first match and Zimbabwe defeated Nepal by 2 runs in the second match. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super League series while the bottom two go to the Plate Championship.