KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Nepal U-19 cricket team has suffered a 89-run loss against Sri Lankan team Chilaw Marians Cricket Club in the third practice match held at club’s home ground in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, on Friday.
Chasing the target of 225 runs, Nepal was folded out for 135 runs in 40.3 overs as the visiting team suffered its second loss in three practice matches.
Former U-19 captain Aasif Sheikh top-scored with 44 runs to his name off 84 deliveries that included four boundaries. Bhim Sharki and Rit Gautam shared 26 and 25 runs off 55 and 45 deliveries respectively in Nepal’s poor outing with the bat. Apart from Sheikh, Sharki, Gautam, and Pawan Sarraf’s 12 runs, none of the other batsmen were able to reach double-digit figures.
Naveen Gunawardana and Sheshan Silva shared three wickets each to help Chilaw complete a comfortable victory. Dilshan Sanjeewa picked up two wickets whereas Kavindu Dinesh and Nimsara Atharagalla chipped with a wicket each.
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Earlier, Nepal has won the toss and elected to bowl first in the 50 overs per side match in preparations for upcoming ACC U-19 Asia Cup starting from September 5.
Suhaga Wijewardana registered a 90-ball 56 runs including nine boundaries to help Chilaw Marians reach 224 runs in 50 overs for the loss of eight wickets. Dasun Senaviratne contributed 36 runs off 41 deliveries whereas Sanoj Darshika, Lasith Croospulle and Dinesh chipped with 32, 26 and unbeaten 25 runs respectively.
Left-arm spinner Surya Tamang was the best bowler of the day for Nepal registering bowling figures of nine overs and two wickets during the first innings. He conceded 34 runs off it. Likewise, Pawan Sarraf picked up two wickets in 10 overs condeding 46 runs. Kamal Singh Airee, Rashid Khan and Sagar Dhakal shared a wicket each to keep the Chilaw’s total under 225 runs.
In the previous practice match, Dhakal had notched up a match-winning performance in Nepal’s commanding 80-run win against Baduraliya Cricket Club in the second practice match played at Surrey Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka on Thursday.
In the first practice match, Nepal had suffered a three-wicket loss at the hands of Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) U-23 cricket team in the first practice match played at Sinhalese Sports Club Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday. SSC chased the target of 241 runs in the last ball of the 42-over per side match to complete the win.
Nepal is in Sri Lanka to participate in the Youth Asia Cup to be held from September 5 to 14.
The batting consultant from India, Apurva Desai has joined the team in Sri Lanka where Nepal is playing few practice matches before the tournament kicks off next week.
Nepal is placed with host team Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Group B for the marquee youth Asian Cup. The top two teams after the single round-robin league will reach the semifinals.
