Nepal U-19 Squad
Kanishka Chaugai
Paras Khadka
Mahesh Chhetri
Sharad Vesawker
Yashwant Subedi
Gyanendra Malla
Prem Chaudhary
Basanta Regmi
Raj Shrestha
Ratan Rauniyar
Bantu Bataju
Sashi Kesari
Abhaya Rana
Amrit Bhattarai
Tarini Shah – Manager
Diwakar Ghale Gurung – Assistant Manager
Roy Dias – Coach
Shankar Rana – Assistant Coach
Warm-up matches ahead of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup
February 1, 2006
Nepal were comfortable victors over Namibia, winning by seven wickets with nine balls to spare. Nepal shocked Namibia, reducing them to 93-5 before Ewald Steenkamp (50) and Henno Prinsloo (57) added 73 to help the Africans to 201-9. Nepal chased down that target in relative comfort with Captain Kanishka Chaugai, in his third and final ICC U/19 CWC, top-scoring with 49.
February 3, 2006
Nepal inflicted a second defeat in two matches on Scotland as they won by six wickets. Only Calum Macleod, batting at number ten, passed 30 (he made 32) as Scotland limped to 189-9 with pace bowler Bantu Bataju taking 3-34.
Sarad Vesawkar’s 77 not out was the foundation of Nepal’s successful chase was built as they eased home with 4.3 overs in hand. It was a match where the bowlers of both sides struggled desperately with their line as 51 wides were bowled.
Scotland’s share was 20 and they have now conceded 51 wides in their matches against Ireland and Nepal.
GROUP STAGE
Group D: England, Zimbabwe, Nepal and Ireland
February 6, 2006
England’s spinners impose control to see off Nepal
England 209-9 (50 overs, M.Ali 54), Nepal 132 (45.2 overs). England won by 77 runs.
February 7, 2006
Zimbabwe hold nerve to beat Nepal in a thriller
Zimbabwe 201 (49.5 overs, R.Higgins 74, P.Khadra 4-28); Nepal 199-9 (50 overs, K.Chaugai 78). Zimbabwe won by two runs.
Zimbabwe came back from the dead twice in one day to break Nepal’s hearts at the Colombo Cricket Club on Tuesday.
February 9, 2006
Nepal’s convincing win over Ireland
Nepal 234-8 (50 overs, Veswarkar 82); Ireland 174 (45.3 overs, Morgan 86). Nepal won by 60 runs.
Nepal scored a convincing and thoroughly deserved 60-run win over fellow Associate side Ireland to earn a Plate Championship quarter-final against Uganda.
Final Points of Group Stage:
Group D   Played    Points    NRR
Zimbabwe   3            6        +0.94
England    3            4        +0.45
Nepal      3            2        -0.13
Ireland     3            0        -1.26
PLATE CHAMPIONSHIP
February 14, 2006
Plate Championship Quarter-Final
Nepal win after Uganda’s batting fails
Nepal 192-9 (50 overs, G.Malla 64); Uganda 132 (44.3 overs). Nepal won by 60 runs.
Uganda’s batting, which has proved their Achilles heel throughout the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup, again misfired at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium on Tuesday as they subsided to defeat against Nepal. Nepal adopted a high-risk strategy of batting first despite the fact no other team had done that after winning the toss at the venue throughout the competition so far.
Wicketkeeper Mahesh Chhetri took five catches behind the stumps to complete a very satisfactory day for Nepal.
Nepal now face South Africa in the Plate Championship semi-finals and both sides will know that Nepal beat their more illustrious opponents in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup two years ago.
February 16, 2006
Plate Championship Semi-Final
Nepal shock South Africa
Nepal 214-8 (50 overs, Chaugai 59); South Africa 212-5 (50 overs, D.Elgar 66 not out). Nepal won by two runs.
It has taken a while but in the 38th match of the tournament we have a shock: Nepal beat mighty South Africa by two runs in a thrilling finish.
The Associate country, coached by former Sri Lanka batsman Roy Dias, held their nerve to earn a place in the final of the Plate Championship on Saturday where they will face New Zealand.
Nepal scored 214-8 with captain Kanishka Chaugai (59) leading the way before restricting South Africa to 212-5, despite Dean Elgar’s 66 not out from 65 balls. South Africa required 16 from the final two overs, 10 from the last six deliveries and three off the last ball but Basanti Regmi and Paras Khadka bowled superbly to earn their side a famous win. It is the second time in successive ICC U/19 Cricket World Cups that Nepal have beaten the Proteas as they also overcame them by one wicket in Bangladesh in 2004.
Dias said afterwards: “That finish today was really tense but the boys handled it well and I am very proud of them. I told them beforehand that South Africa would be under pressure after looking at that last result and with our spinners bowling well it was a great win.”
February 18, 2006
Plate Championship Final
Nepal pull off stunning win to shock New Zealand
New Zealand 204 (49.2 overs, T.Astle 66); Nepal 205-9 (49.4 overs, Basanta Regmi 66). Nepal won by one wicket. Man of the Match: Basanta Regmi
Nepal pulled off an amazing comeback to win the Plate Championship, beating a stunned New Zealand by one wicket in a thrilling final-over finish.
The Associate country, already with the scalp of South Africa in this tournament, seemed down and out at 75-6 chasing 205 for victory but Prem Chaudhary (26) and man of the match Basanta Regmi (66) launched the fight-back with a stirring 70-run stand.
It was the cue for wild celebrations as the whole Nepal squad raced onto the field to embrace the last pair and for coach Roy Dias there was the pleasure of success at last after a near miss at the same stage in New Zealand four years earlier.
“This is the most satisfying moment for me,” he said afterwards. “In 2002 we got to the same stage but lost in the final to Zimbabwe and now we have just crossed the line. I am sure people will be celebrating a lot back home in Nepal especially as we have beaten two Test-playing nations. It is a great achievement.”
New Zealand coach Dipak Patel said afterwards: “We were in a good position but you have got to take your hat off to Nepal for not giving in.”
News & Pictures Source: www.icc-cricket.com
(Special Thanks to Mr. Brian Murgatroyd for giving us permission to use News and Pictures.)
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEPAL U-19 SQUAD ON WINNING PLATE CHAMPIONSHIP, ICC U-19 CRICKET WORLD CUP 2006
– Recess Cafe Team
