Kathmandu, December 15

Nepal’s U-19 cricket team was beaten by Sri Lanka’s youth side by just ONE run on the first day of the ACC Youth Asia Cup. Winning the toss, Nepal put Sri Lanka in to bat, and restricted the Asian giants to 227/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Nepal could not chase down the scores.

Here we look at key moments in the encounter that determined the outcome of the match.

1.

Dipendra’s  ‘death bowling’ and batting

The Nepali team’s vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee led from the front, both with the bat and the ball. He was especially effective during the dying moments of the match when Sri Lanka were looking for boundaries. Thanks to his tight bowling, not a single six was scored in the Sri Lankan inning. He bowled 10 overs conceding just 35 runs. His yorkers and slower balls were too difficult to handle for the Lankan team.

When Nepal batted, Airee first put on a 45-run partnership with Aadil Khan at a time when the side’s openers were already back in the pavilion. He was quick between the wickets and anchored the innings to give Nepal a shot at chasing the target. He took the match to the wire with some sensible batting, but ran out of luck.

2.

Aadil Khan’s patient knock

With Nepal’s opening batting pair back in the pavilion within the first five overs, Aadil Khan steadied the ship with Dipendra Singh Airee, and was poised to make a big score. He played the spinners particularly well, but was unlucky to get out LBW to right arm off break bowler Mendis. Khan showed he is technically fit and has good judgement when it comes to shot selection.

3.

Pawan Sarraf’s ‘caught and bowled’

When spinner Pawan Sarraf came into the attack, Sri Lanka were losing wickets at regular intervals, and the batsmen were trying to steady the ship. Sarraf, who is one of the tallest players in the squad, caught the dangerous Arachchige off his own bowling to pile pressure on the Lankan batting lineup. In the 6 overs he bowled, he gave away just 27 runs.

 

4.

Kamal Singh Airee’s three wickets

Pacer Kamal Singh Airee set the tone for the match as he trapped Sri Lankan opener Vishwa Chaturanga leg before, the very first ball he bowled. He then came back in his final spell during the death overs, and stuck to his line and length. The Lankan batsmen found him difficult to put away. He took two crucial tail-ender wickets to slow down the Lankan side, which was initially looking at a target of over 270 runs. He also made valuable contribution with the bat, sacrificing his wicket for the set batsman Dipendra Airee.