KATHMANDU, Aug 25: An all-round performance with bat and ball by returning Sagar Pun boosted by a whirlwind century by Dipendra Singh Airee secured a comfortable win of 178 runs in the second practice match played at Bloomfield Cricket Ground against the home team Bloomfield Cricket Club on Friday.
Making his return in the national team after a hiatus of a year, Pun scored 92 runs facing 83 deliveries before picking up three wickets with ball and Airee smashed 121 runs taking Nepal total to commanding 323 runs in the 50 overs. Bloomfield was limited to 134 runs at the end of 38 overs for the loss of nine wickets before bad light forced an early finish inducing a result of 176-run win for Nepal by DLS method.
Defending the total of 323, pace bowler Lalit Bhandari gave an early break-through sending Bloomfield Ruwin Pieris back to pavilion for a duck. The other opener Sachin Jayawardene started well but fell for the score of 30 runs to give Lalit Rajbanshi his only wicket of the day. Jayawardene smashed three boundaries and a six during his 43-ball stay.
The Bloomfield’s chase got worsened as Pun struck thrice in his eight-over spell dismissing Sanoj Dharshika, Arvindh Rajamunendra and Lahiru Sanjaya Fernando. The host team was reduced to 124 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the 29.2 overs. Dharshika top scored with 38 runs including five fours facing 52 deliveries. Paras Khadka and Basant Regmi chipped in with a wicket each and Bhandari added the scalp of Kasun Ekanayeke to complete his brace for the day.
Nepal sets 324-run target for Bloomfield Club
The match was eventually stopped at the end of 38 overs due to the bad light. With no further play possible on the day, Nepal was declared winner for being way ahead in DLS method.
Earlier, Nepal won the match and elected to bat first. The skipper of last match Gyanendra Malla was replaced by Nepal’s regular captain Paras Khadka whereas Sagar Pun and Karan KC came in for Binod Bhandari and Sompal Kami. Sandeep Lamichhane remains unavailable for selection due to his stint with St Nevis and Patriots in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) until August 27.
Nepal did not had best of starts losing both the openers, Anil Kumar Sah and Subash Khakurel, cheaply for 17 and 9 runs respectively and no.3 batsman Khadka for 23 runs. Nepal slid into further trouble after Rohit Kumar Paudel failed to get going being dismissed for 11 runs facing 39 deliveries. Nepal was in slight trouble scoring 84 runs in the 20th over for the loss of four wickets.
A partnership of 185 runs followed between Airee and Pun. Airee smashed nine fours and five sixes in his 96-ball stay completing his first century in national colors. Similarly, Pun, who was making his comeback in the national team after missing ICC World Cricket League Division Two, ICC World Cup Qualifiers and Nepal’s first ever ODI series against the Netherlands, missed his century by eight runs in his 83-ball stay. Pun smashed eight fours and three sixes.
A 12-ball 26 runs brisk cameo by Karan KC helped Nepal push its total to 323 at the end of 50 overs. Dharshika picked up three wickets, the most for Bloomfield, in his six-over spell conceding 44 runs.
Nepal has so far won the first two of the three practice matches in Sri Lanka before heading to Malaysia on August 27 to participate in the Asia Cup Qualifiers. Nepal will play its final practice match against Colts Cricket Club at Colts Club Ground on Sunday.
BRIEF SCORES
Nepal practice tour of Sri Lanka for Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018, 2nd Practice Match at Bloomfield Cricket Ground
Nepal (Toss) 323/8 (50 Overs)
Airee 121, Pun 92, Dharsika 44/3
Bloomfield 134/9 in (38 Overs)
Dharshika 38, Pun 16/3, Bhandari 31/2
Match ended due to bad light.
Nepal won by 176 Runs (DLS Method)
