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| January 23, 2002 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 8, 1422 |
Nepal embarrass Pakistan in U-19 World Cup
CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 22: Asian qualifiers Nepal sent shock waves in the third ICC Under-19 World Cup when they humbled fancied Pakistan by 30 runs in their Group ‘C’ match at Lincoln Green Ground Tuesday.
Asked to bat first in overcast conditions, Nepal recovered from 77-4 to be dismissed for 151 in 48.4 overs with Junaid Zia and Kamran Sajid snapping up four wickets each.
Pakistan, in reply, crashed to 121 all out in 45.5 overs after an inexplicable batting display.
Nepal’s spinning duo of Shakti Gauchan and Sanjam Regmi caused the downfall of Pakistan batting with intelligent bowling.
Left-arm slow bowler Shakti captured three for 19 in a superb spell of 10 overs while off-break bowler Sanjam grabbed three for 27 runs in 9.5 overs.
After going down fighting against England Sunday, Nepal produced another sterling performance to show their potential.
Three Pakistani batsmen Asim Munir, Khaqan Arsal and Amin-ur-Rehman were out to reckless strokes.
Pakistan now must beat England in a do-or-die game to have realistic chance of qualifying for the Super League stage. Pakistan, though, still lead Group ‘C’ with five points from two games. Nepal have four points from two games while England have four points from one match.
Needing barely three runs an over, Pakistan, who reached the semifinals in Sri Lanka last year, made a disastrous start when opener Kamran Younis was run out for the second successive time for only two.
Before Pakistan could recover from the shock, skipper Salman Butt was caught at the wicket by his counterpart Binod Das, trying to cut, to make it 18-2 in the seventh over.
Left-handed Kamran Sajid and Asim Munir tried to retrieve the situation by putting on 34 for the second wicket before Kamran Sajid was caught behind off Shakti for 17.
Khaqan Arsal, who joined Asim at the crease, started rearguard action to take Pakistan to 84 in the 21st over.
Khaqan got the shock of his life when he was adjudged lbw off Shakti trying to sweep by New Zealand umpire Tony Hill, who took a while before raising his finger. Khaqan hit three fours in his 24 off as many balls with the aid of three well-timed fours.
Asim, who w