Kathmandu, September 23

Nepal national cricket team defeated ‘A’ team of Tamil Nadu by 147 runs in their third practice match of the India tour at the Murugappa Cricket Club grounds today.

Opting to bat first, Nepal rode on a fine century from Sharad Vesawkar to post a mammoth 311-5 in their allotted 50 overs before packing the Tamil Nadu team for 164 runs in 45.3 overs.

Nepal  made a bright start with the bat as openers Gyanendra Malla and Sagar Pun  added 46 runs inside 10 overs before the national team vice-captain lost his wicket after scoring 31-ball 37  that included six boundaries.

Pun and Vesawkar then shared a 147-run partnership for the second wicket to take the match away from the home team. Pun scored 77 off 99 balls hitting five boundaries and a six.

Vesawkar then added another 56 runs for the third wicket with Dipendra Singh Airee, who  scored a quick fire 37-ball 73 with the help of eight boundaries and  four sixes. Vesawkar cracked 11 boundaries in his 100 off 119 balls. Vignesh Rao claimed two wickets, while Akash, Varun and R Sathyanarayan took one wicket each for Tamil Nadu.

In  reply, Tamil Nadu had a disastrous run chase as Arvind Raj (three) lost his  wicket in the fourth ball of the seventh over with only 28 runs on the  board. Tamil Nadu then lost wickets at regular interval and were  packed for a low score. R Sathyanarayan top scored with 67 off 85 balls that included five boundaries and two sixes.

Sandeep  Lamichhane claimed three wickets, while Karan KC and Sushil Kandel  grabbed two wickets each. Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Bhandari and  Basant Regmi took one wicket apiece.

The Nepali team — which is in India  to prepare for the ICC World Cricket League Championship matches against Hong Kong slated for October 13 and 15 — had defeated Dindigul Dragon  by 153 runs and beaten Melapur Recreation Club by 52 runs in their previous matches.