Unbeaten Azan leads Pakistan to five-wicket win over Nepal

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Jan 24, 2024

A collective effort by Pakistan’s bowler flattened Nepal for 197 in 50 overs and chased it down in 47.4 overs to register a five-wicket win in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup on Wednesday at Buffalo Park, East London.

Left-hand orthodox bowler, Arafat Minas, picked three wickets as none of Nepal’s batters scored fifty-plus in their second group stage match of the event. Arafat conceded only 23 runs in his 10 overs.

Ahmed Hussain (2-12) and Ubaid Shah (2-48) picked two wickets apiece for the winning side.

After opting to bat first, Nepal kept losing wickets at continued junctures. Opening batsman, Bipin Rawal, top-scored for the losing side with 39 off 68 balls hitting four fours and a six.

Deepak Dumre (26), Dev Khanal (23), Gulshan Jha (18), and Dipesh Kandel (13), all saw off the initial phase, only to throw it away. Akash Chand was left without a partner in his 16 off 11 balls including a six and four.

Pakistan’s openers, Shamyl Hussain (37) and Shahzaib Khan (37) partnered for 80-run in the chase. Nepal’s medium pacer, Akash Chand then caused a slide, taking the next three wickets to fall, and reducing Pakistan to 98/3 within the 26th over. But Pakistan’s No.4 Azan Awais then led the resistance, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 82. Akash accounted for three wickets, leaking 34 runs in his 9 overs.

Dipesh Kandel (1-34) and Akash Tripathi (1-10) took a wicket apiece.