hammer Nepal U-19 cricket team

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The U-19 national team preparing for the ACC U-19 Asia Cup today lost to Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club by 136 runs in a practice match here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium today.

Following a solid 100-run partnership between openers Paresh Lohani and Dipendra Chaudhary, APF made 254 runs before they were all out in the final bowl of their innings. The U-19 team, in reply, were bundled out for 118 after a five-wicket haul from Sharad Vesawkar.

Openers Subash Khakurel and Pradeep Airee (eight) gave U-19 boys a modest start with a 35-run partnership until Rupesh Shrivastav dealt a double blow dismissing both batsmen in a space of three runs. Subash top scored for U-19 with 24 runs from 26 balls hitting two fours and a six.

Fajlur Rehman (18) and Naresh Budhayer (15) then tried to consolidate their innings adding 37 runs for the third wicket but once Rupesh ran the former out, the U-19 team lost their last eight wickets for just 43 runs. Sharad did the rest of the job demolishing their middle and lower order. Sunam Gautam and Dipendra Chaudhary also took one wicket each.

Earlier, Dipendra and Paresh played freely taking APF to 100-run mark in just 21.4 overs. Dipendra hit six boundaries on his way to make a 69-ball 53, while patient Paresh made 38 off 62 with five fours. Rakesh Karn (21) and Sharad heaped more woes on U-19 team with 74 runs for the third wicket. Sharad was the man-of-the-match with a run-a-ball 66 that included five fours and three sixes.

Rom Shrestha also chipped in with a 22-ball 27 with a six and a four. Krishna Karki picked up four wickets for the U-19 team, while Saurabh Khanal had three scalps. Bhuwan Karki took two and Gopal Kumar Singh got one wicket.