KATHMANDU, Aug 20: Nepal continued its losing streak in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup as Sri Lanka thrashed Nepal by eight wickets on Monday in the plate championship quarterfinal.
Nepal won the toss and elected to bat at the Peter Burge Oval, Brisbane. Captain Prithu Baskota´s decision, however, proved detrimental, as Nepal failed to build even a single partnership during the entire innings.
Nepal was all out for 79 runs in 27.3 overs. Sri Lanka met the target in 20.4 overs, losing only two wickets.
Subash Khakurel (22 runs off 30 balls) and Rajesh Pulami Magar (16 off 40 balls) were the only Nepali batsmen to score in double digits. Sri Lankan bowlers had contributed 18 extras to Nepal´s meager total.
Medium pacer Sanitha de Mel removed Nepali opener Pradeep Airee (4 runs) and Sagar Pun (1 run) from the crease. Another pacer Ranitha Liyanarachchi removed Naresh Budayair (4 runs) and Khakurel. Lahiru Madushnka, also a medium pacer, claimed the wicket of Nepali captain Banskota (5 runs off 16 balls) to quash Nepal´s hope. Left-arm orthodox bowler Amila Aponso grabbed two wickets and Sri Lankan right-arm offbreak bowler Tharindu Kaushal wrapped up Nepali innings claiming the wickets of Nepali tail-enders.
Chasing the easy total, Sri Lankan openers Sebastian Perera and Shehan Fernando put up a 71-run partnership to seal the victory. Perara scored 16 runs off 51 balls before Baskota bowled him in the fourth ball of the 16th over. Man-of-the-match Fernando hit 48 runs off 49 balls before Bhuwan Karki bowled him out. Fernando struck eight boundaries.
Niroshan Dickwella (5 runs) and Angelo Jayasinghe (2 runs) remained unbeaten as Sri Lanka humbled Nepal by eight wickets.
Nepal will take on Namibia on Tuesday in a 13th place playoff match. Ireland defeated Namibia by four wickets on Monday. Namibia set up a 129 runs target, playing all 50 overs and losing nine wickets. Ireland met the target in 24.3 overs losing only six wickets.
India, New Zealand reach semifinal
Meanwhile, India and New Zealand marched into the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup title. India pulled a thrilling 1 wicket victory over Pakistan while New Zealand met a target of 238 in the last ball with three wickets remaining to crush the West Indies.
Pakistan, batting first, put up 136 runs in 45.1 overs losing all the wickets and India met the target with a wicket and 12 balls remaining.
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