Kathmandu, March 2

Sunil Dhamala scored a half century as Nepal national cricket team registered a 40-run victory over Noida Wonders in their third practice match at the Gautam Buddha University Ground, Greater Noida in India today.

Put into bat first, Nepal scored 248-5 in their allotted 50 overs before packing Noida for 208 runs in 47.2 overs.

Opener Dhamal scored 74 off 128 balls with the help of six boundaries, while Binod Bhandari remained unbeaten on 32-ball 41 that included three fours and two sixes.

Nepal made a bright start with the bat with openers Dhamala and Aasif Sheikh (22) putting in 51 runs on the board. Dhamala then added 59 runs with Sharad Vesawkar (22) for the second wicket.

Dhamala also shared a 65-run stand with Aarif Sheikh (28) before being caught by Bobby Yadav off Vikash Mishra. Aasif and Vesawkar hit a six each, while Aarif cracked two fours.

Later Bhandari shared a 57-run parynership for the sixth wicket with Rajesh Pulami, who scored 23-ball 30. Pulami’s innings included a four and two sixes. Noida’s Vikash Mishra claimed two wickets, while Shubham Mavi, Shivam Sharma and Harshit Sethi took a wicket each.

In reply, Noida’s Priyam Garg top scored with 44 off 57 balls hitting four boundaries and a six, while Shivam Sharma hit 36-ball 38 with the help of four boundaries.

Nepal’s Sompal Kami grabbed three wickets, while Shakti Gauchan and Sandeep Lamichhane picked up two wickets each. Karan KC and Basant Regmi shared two wickets between them.

Earlier, Nepal had faced a 47-run defeat against Rajwada Cricket Club in their first match before thrashing the same opponents by 83 runs in the second practice match.