Nepal made a disastrous start to their U-19 Cricket World Cup campaign as they suffered a 64-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening match of the Group D at the Buffalo Park in East London, South Africa on Sunday.

Chasing a massive 303 run target, Nepal could only manage 238-9 in 50 overs and succumbed to a first World Cup defeat against a New Zealand U-19 side. Nepal had defeated New Zealand in their previous two World Cup meetings (by 32 runs in the group stage at the 2016 World Cup in Bangladesh and by one wicket in the 2006 World Cup plate final in Sri Lanka).

Opener Arjun Kumal was the only stand-out batter for Nepal, scoring 90 runs in his 104-ball knock that featured 12 boundaries.

Captain Dev Khanal provided the second highest score for Nepal with 36 runs off 34 balls.

The duo also shared a 59-run stand for the third wicket to lift Nepal’s innings following a terrible start that saw Kumal’s opening partner Deepak Bohara (0) and Aakash Tripathi (2) departing cheaply.

After Khanal was dismissed in the 16th over—caught by Mason Clarke off Oscar Jackson—Nepal’s middle order collapsed, with Uttam Magar (0), Gulsan Jha (2), Dipak Bohara (15) and Dipesh Kandel (0) all failing to cope with New Zealand’s pace.

Kumal, who was dropped three times, fought alone but fell short of reaching a century for a second successive international competition when he hopped to upper-cup and holed out—caught by sub fielder Robbie Foulkes off Ewald Schreuder in the 37.2 overs.

Kumal had scored 91 runs against Afghanistan during the ACC U-19 Asia Cup in Dubai in December last year.

Kumal became the joint second highest individual scorer for Nepal alongside Kanishka Chaugai in the U-19 World Cup. Chaugai had scored 90 not out off 124 balls against Papua New Guinea during the plate competition of the 2004 World Cup in Bangladesh. Pradeep Singh Aireee holds the record for highest individual score for Nepal in the U-19 World Cup. He had scored 98 not out off 76 balls during the 13th place playoff semi-final against Namibia at the 2012 World Cup in Australia.

Kumal’s dismissal put Nepal out of competition at 176-8 but the tailenders Subash Bhandari (33 not out) and Tilak Bhandari (17) withstood the New Zealand bowling attack to play full 50 overs.

Clarke was the pick of New Zealand bowling with the figures of 3-25 but he also received support from Schreuder (2-54), Jackson (2-25).

Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat first and posted 302-8 in the allotted 50 overs with help from a blistering unbeaten century from Snehith Reddy and a fifty from Jackson.

New Zealand made a good start to their innings after openers Tom Jones (33) and Luke Watson (14) added 53 runs for the first wicket.

But they found themselves in deep trouble at 67-3 when Nepal spinners took quick wickets.

But Reddy played an unbeaten 147-ball knock and put on a 157-run partnership with captain Jackson, who made 75 runs off 81 balls, for the fourth wicket to change the momentum of the game.

Reddy and Jackson’s 157-run stand was the New Zealand U-19’s highest for the fourth wicket in the Youth one-day internationals.

Reddy cracked 11 fours and six maximums, while Jackson hit three boundaries and five sixes.

Subash took three wickets for Nepal. Jha picked two wickets, while Tilak, Tripathi and Kandel picked one wicket apiece.

Nepal next play Pakistan on Wednesday.