KATHMANDU, March 21: Half centuries from Rohit Kumar Paudel and Sandeep Jora helped Nepal U-19 cricket team to a 62-run win over Andhra Pradesh U-19 cricket team in the first practice match in India on Wednesday. 

Nepal that is in an Indian tour for the preparations of the U-19 Cricket World Cup Asian Region Qualifiers started the three-match practice series with a win. Nepal presented a target of 277 runs losing all its wickets in 48 overs. In reply, Andhra Pradesh made only 214 runs for the loss of all its wickets in 45.1 overs. 

Kushal Malla and Kamal Singh Airee took seven wickets altogether, and took all the wickets of Andhra Pradesh with 29 balls remaining to face. 

Harshbhardan made the highest 46 runs for the team, P Tejaswi 43 runs, and Hemant Reddy added 38 runs for the losing team. 

When the home team was in a situation where it scored 202 runs, Tejaswi was caught out by Mohammed Asif Seikh in Airee’s bowling and made the win almost sure for Nepal. 

Malla took four wickets for Nepal giving away 41 runs in 10 overs with two maidens. Airee picked up three wickets in 7.1 overs including a maiden. Pawan Sarraf pocketed two wickets, while Sagar Dhakal claimed one. 

Earlier, Nepal had started poorly as it scored only 49 runs when four of its batsmen were out. Rit Gautam, Rabi Kumar Shah scored five each, while Sarraf and Sheikh were out scoring four each. 
The game changed when Paudel and Jora came to the pitch. They had a partnership of 145 runs.

Jora scored 69 runs including six sixes and two fours. Paudel contributed with 81 runs hitting a six and six fours. 

Airee played a great cameo for Nepal coming in the 10th number and scored 44 runs. He scored five sixes and two fours in 25 balls. Before being out in the last ball in the 48th over, Airee hit five back to back sixes. 

Tejaswi took four wickets for the home team, while Venkatesh and Shreekarsai Reddy picked up two wickets each. 
 

 
• U-19_cricket
 
• Nepal
 
• India