Kathmandu, August 9

World XI defeated Nepal national team by 37 runs in a charity match organised by Malaysia Cricket Association to raise aid for the Earthquake Relief Fund Nepal, in Kuala Lumpur today.

In the match played at Kinara grounds, World XI — led by legendary Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya — bowled out for 135 runs in 19.4 overs after electing to bat first. Nepal were packed for 98 runs in 19.2 overs.

World XI got off to a flying start scoring 30 runs in four overs before Avinash Karn removed Jayasuriya (six) before Venugopal Rao and Marcus Stoinis added 39 runs for the second wicket.

Rao, who scored a quick fire 23 off 14 balls with two fours and as many sixes, fell to Shakti Gauchan in the eighth over. Mehaboob Aalam removed dangerous Stoinis, who scored 48 off 29 balls with eight fours and a six, in the last ball of ninth over.

World XI then kept losing wickets at regular interval and were bowled out for 135 runs in 19.4 overs. Sharad Vesawakar, Rajesh Pulami, Avinash Karn and Siddhant Lohani claimed two wickets each. Shakti Gauchan and Mehaboob Aalam grabbed a wicket apiece for Nepal.

In reply, Nepali openers Anil Mandal and Naresh Budhayer made a cautious start scoring a 25 runs before the former out for 17 for the first wicket. Mandal (17). Budhayer struck a four and a six in his 18-ball 33 as Nepal lost two quick wickets to be 41-2.

Wickets kept on stumbling as Nepali batsaman failed to build partnership and they folded for 98 runs. Raju Rijal (17) and Siddhant Lohani (13) were the other contributors for Nepal. Suresh Navaratnam was the pick of the World XI bowlers taking three wickets, while Abdur Razzak and skipper Jayasuriya took two wickets each.

Other players like former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, first Test captain of Bangladesh Aminu Islam, Abdur Razzaq from Bangladesh, Steve O’Keefe from Australia, and Chetan Suryavanshi from Singapore also played for World XI in the match dubbed as ‘Bat for Nepal’.

Malaysia Cricket Association took the initiative to help the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 claiming more than 8,700 lives and ruined millions of worth physical structures across the country.