Nepal lose to Bangladesh by 83 runs

Bangladesh U-23 captain Mominul Haque and Nepal's stand-in skipper Gyandendra Malla look on during a toss in presence of ICC match referee during the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Bangladesh, on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Courtesy: Raman Shiwakoti
Bangladesh U-23 captain Mominul Haque and Nepal's stand-in skipper Gyandendra Malla look on during a toss in presence of ICC match referee during the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Bangladesh, on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Courtesy: Raman Shiwakoti

KATHMANDU: Nepal on Tuesday lost their second consecutive match in the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup against the hosts Bangladesh by 83 runs.

In the Group B match played at  Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh U-23 defended the target of 258 runs and restricted Nepal to 172 runs in 42.3 overs.

Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 56 off 85 deliveries, while Dilip Nath made 41 off 62 and Binod Bhandari 33 off 23.

Aasif Sheikh added 12 and Mahaboob Alam 10 to the team's score, while other players could not reach double figures.

Skipper Gyanendra Malla faced 12 deliveries but was forced to return to the pavilion at naught after Nazmul Hossain Shanto caught him on Mohammad Saifuddin's delivery.

Nepal were pushed to a precarious situation after losing three important wickets for 16 runs in seven overs. But Dilip Nath and Dipendra Singh Airee instilled some hope in the team with their wise batting. They extended their partnership to 97 runs before Nath lost his wicket in 29.2 overs.

His 41 runs included one six and four fours, while Airee's personal 56 runs included 6 fours.

Rahatul Ferdous was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers with department with 7-0-45-4. Likewise, Mohammad Saifuddin, who bowled for 8.3 overs, picked three Nepali wickets for 22 runs. Abul Hasan claimed two more.

Nasum Ahmed did not take any wicket but offered 19 runs only in eight overs, giving Nepali batsmen hard time in the pitch.

Earlier, Nepal won the toss and chose to field.

Nasir Hossain made unbeaten 109 runs and Mominul Haque 61 to help Bangladesh build 258-run target, which Nepal could not chase.

Avinash Karna took three wickets and Sandeep Lamichhane two in the first innings. Mahaboob Alam, Dipendra Singh Airee and Gyanendra Malla also claimed apiece.