Nepal, chasing a target of 169 runs, needed four runs off the last ball for victory but Gauchan became Chaturanga Kumara´s victim in the last ball. Gauchan made eight runs.[break]
Nepal could manage only 165/9 in the 50-over match. Earlier, Nepal had restricted Sri Lanka to 168 runs in 48.1 overs after it was invited to field first.
Off-spinner Sagar Pun produced an all-round performance for Nepal claiming six wickets and scoring the second-highest 31 runs for the visitors. In bowling, Pun gave away 23 runs in his 10-over spell, which included a maiden over. Avinash Karn claimed two wickets with as many maiden overs bowling 6.1 overs. Basanta Regmi and Chandra Saud shared a wicket each.
Openers Niroshan Dikwella (40) and Udara Jayasundara (28) gave a good start to Sri Lanka that lost its first wicket on 51 runs. Angelo Jayasinghe remained unbeaten for Sri Lanka scoring 29 runs off 62 balls.
Chasing the modest target, Binod Bhandari scored the highest 40 runs for Nepal. Bhandari hit three fours and two sixes in his 61-ball innings before he was trapped leg before wicket by Amila Aponso. Pun, the seventh order batsman, hit 31 off 42 with two boundaries. Nepal required 24 runs off 31 balls when Pun returned to the pavilion in 44.5 overs.
After Pun, Regmi (11 off 25) and Gauchan (8 off 16) were dismissed cheaply dashing Nepal´s hopes of registering its first victory in the ongoing Sri Lanka tour. Among the Nepali batsmen, Subash Khakurel (8), Anil Kumar Mandal (13), Subash Khakurel (13), Gyanendra Malla (20) and skipper Paras Khadka (10) were run out.
The Nepali team is in Sri Lanka to prepare for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup to be held from August 17 to 25 in Singapore. Nepal will play its fourth practice match against the same team at the NCC Cricket Ground on Sunday.
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