Spin bowling. This was the common answer of Nepal and Afghanistan U19 skippers when asked about their team’s strength during the captain’s meet on Saturday. And they have so far been proven right as spinners have played a significant role in helping their respective teams register consecutive wins in the Asia Qualifier and move closer to the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup in 2026.

“Our spinners are our major strength,” Nepali skipper Naren Bhatta and Afghanistan skipper Mahboob Khan echoed during the meet.

After defeating the UAE and Oman on Sunday, Nepal and Afghanistan bested Oman and Hong Kong in the two games of Match Day 2 on Monday at the Upper and Lower Mulpani grounds, respectively.

Yuvraj Khatri, Nepal’s right-arm leg-spinner, pulled off a fifer on Monday to restrict Oman to a low total. Khatri, who was wicketless in the first game against the UAE, was used as the seventh bowler against Oman, but he proved to be the most successful one.

Khatri has been a key bowler for Nepal U19 of late. He suffered an injury while celebrating his fourth wicket against Bangladesh during the ACC U19 Asia Cup in December last year. He returned in action against the UAE, but could not perform his best. Yet, he bounced back on Monday.

“I was told that my bowling would come up anytime,” Khatri said in the post-match conference after defeating Oman. “I was backed up by my coaching staff and teammates. They believed in me, and so did I.”

Khatri was called by Bhatta when Nepali bowlers were struggling against Oman’s in-at-three Jeet Vrajesh Shah. Shah, who scored 52 off 78, was the second victim of Khatri, and with it, Oman’s scoreboard moved slowly. Khatri then took care of the lower order and had Oman bundled out for 117 runs by the end of 38 overs.

In his seven overs, Khatri bowled two maidens, 31 dot balls in total, and gave away only 15 runs.

“The takeaway is to not be overconfident, only confident,” said Khatri. “We will be improving with every game and fight for a spot in the World Cup.”

Apart from Khatri, spinners Aprajit Poudel and Ashok Dhami bagged one wicket each while Santosh Yadav picked two. Pacer Dayanand Mandal also took one.

The bowlers had done their job. And with the low target to chase, Nepali openers—Shahil Patel and Niraj Kumar Yadav—started aggressively and gave the team a solid start. The first wicket partnership lasted until the 10th over as Yadav departed just four runs shy of his 50. Patel followed him, falling short of six runs for his 50.

As the two openers took Nepal close to the target, in-at-three and four, Bhatta and Santosh Yadav completed the chase in 14.3 overs, contributing 12 off 9 and 10 off 5, respectively.

Saumya Bhavin Sampat took both wickets for Oman.

“We did not play our best cricket,” Oman’s captain Rahil Daniyal Habibulla lamented after the match. “We were not up to their [Nepal’s] level. Our strength is our team, and we will keep coming back stronger.”

On the day’s other match, Afghanistan similarly registered a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Hong Kong.

Afghanistan had Hong Kong all out for a paltry 70 runs in 36.2 overs with skipper and spinner Khan, and all six other bowlers he used, taking at least one wicket.

Alongside Khan, Uzairullah Niazai Khan, Nazifullah Amiri, Ziatullah Shaheen and Wahidullah Zadran took one wicket each, while right-arm leg-spinner Hafieezullah Zadran bagged three. Nooristani Omarzi, the only pacer used by Afghanistan, took two wickets. Zadran and Khatri are the joint leading wicket-takers in the tournament with five wickets each under their belt.

In turn, Hong Kong struck early, sending one of the openers— Uzairullah Niazai Khan—back for a duck in the first over. They took the second wicket in the 7th over with Afghanistan at 36. Yet, opener Khalid Ahmadzai and skipper Khan ensured the win in 14.2 overs, scoring 30 off 38 and 22 off 28, respectively.

The tournament will have a rest day on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Afghanistan will face UAE and Nepal will play Hong Kong at the upper and lower grounds of Mulpani, respectively.

Speaking to the Post after the match, Nepal U19 coach Shakti Gauchan said that his team was taking only the positives from every game and was clear on their mission to qualify for the World Cup.

“It is going well for us,” Gauchan, one of Nepal’s legendary spinners, said.

Gauchan also touched upon how household support for the young players has boosted their morale.

“The players are motivated as their parents are also coming to cheer for them,” Gauchan said. “It is very special that Nepali families have started seeing cricket positively, and it is getting reflected in our games.”