KATHMANDU: Nepal have set a target of 218 runs for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in their first ever match at Lord's on Tuesday.

Nepal won the toss and chose to bat first in a slow pitch. They, however, got off to a cagey start losing opener Anil Mandal for just two runs.

Gyanendra Malla was the highest scorer for Nepal contributing 39 with his bat.

Mandal's dismissal highlighted the omnipresent opening woes for Nepal.

Malla and Sharad Vesawkar tried to lay the foundation by adding 40 runs for the second wicket before Vesawkar fell short for 27.

Skipper Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla somehow rejuvenated the innings and added 46 runs for the third wicket. But Malla was dismissed for 39 and Khadka followed quickly leaving much work for Raju Rijal and Sagar Pun.

Rijal fought hard but was caught on 24 as he tried to loft the ball beyond the boundary line. Nepali innings lost the momentum after his dismissal as the MCC bowlers gave the tail-enders no room whatsoever.

The MCC bowlers took advantage of their home conditions and were clinical with their line and length, offering very little for the Nepali batsmen. Nepali batsmen stuttered in their first real test of this England tour and failed to register a big total.

Basant Regmi and Sompal Kami contributed important runs during the final stages of the innings. Nepali batsmen failed to find boundaries at regular intervals and it was the case of not carrying momentum till the last.

Seven of the batsmen reached the double figures but none of them managed to score big meaning that Nepali bowlers will have to be in sublime form to defend the total.