It took just two days for the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 to spring its first upset as Nepal U-19 beat New Zealand U-19 by 32 runs in its first Group D encounter at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Thursday.  

Sub-continental side canters to 32-run win, its first victory over a Test-playing nation in U-19 World Cup since 2008.

Put into bat in bowling-friendly conditions, Nepal rode on skipper Raju Rijal’s 48 and healthy contributions from Sandeep Sunar (39), Rajbir Singh (24) and Kushal Bhurtel (35 not out) to post 238 for 7.

It could have finished with more, but Nathan Smith struck thrice between the 42nd and 48th over to keep the batsmen under check.

After that, the bowlers put up a disciplined effort to bowl New Zealand out for 206 in 47.1 overs.

Starting its chase, New Zealand lost two wickets within nine overs before Glenn Phillips, the opener, and Josh Finnie, the captain, stitched a 72-run partnership and kept the chase on track. But, the innings fell apart after Prem Tamang, the offspinner, struck twice in two overs.

He had Phillips caught at deep square-leg by the substitute fielder for 52 in the 26th over, and then caught Finnie off his own bowling for 37 in the 28th over.

Tamang finished with figures of 2 for 38, and New Zealand was left needing 95 in the last ten overs.

Dale Phillips tried to bring New Zealand back into the game, but his 41 and eighth-wicket stand of 34 runs with Smith was not enough. After Tamang did his bit, Dipendra Airee went one better to pick up the last three wickets and end New Zealand's innings.  

The last time Nepal had beaten a Test-playing nation in an U-19 World Cup was in 2008 in Malaysia when it had recorded a 99-run win against Zimbabwe in the ninth place play-off quarter-final.