Kathmandu, February 7:

Allrounders Mehboob Alam and Sharad Vesawkar scored impressive half centuries to guide Nepal’s President-XI to a convincing nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka’s Sebastaintine Lankas in the CC & FC Twenty20 Cricket Tournament in Kolkata today.

Electing to bat first, the Sebastaintine scored 128-8 from their allotted 20 overs. Chamath Perera top scored with 29-ball 41, that including five fours and a six, for the Lankan team. Shanuka Pregith also made 24 off 22 balls and Wasanthalal Fernando 21.

Basanta Regmi was the pick of the President-XI, the team that also represents the Nepali national side. Regmi took two wickets conceding 27 runs from three overs. Skipper Binod Das (1-14), Alam (1-20) and Shakti Gauchan (1-20) also bagged one wicket apiece for the Nepali team.

In reply, Nepal had a disastrous start when they lost opener Paresh Lohani (four) but the unbroken second wicket stand between Alam and Vesawkar guided the President-XI safely home in 17.4 overs.

Alam remained unbeaten on 70 while Vesawkar made 51 not out. Alam struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 49-ball innings while Vesawkar hit three fours and two sixes in his 48-ball knock. Alam was declared man of the match and earned IRs 5,000 for his allround performance.

Despite the win, President-XI skipper Binod Das said that they would try to improve their performance in all three departments in their next game. “We need to take our game to the next level against Indian Airlines,” added Das.

President-XI will take on Indian Airlines on Friday.