Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 23:

Raj Kumar Pradhan took a five-wicket haul to dismiss Singapore for 167 runs on the second day of the three-day match under ACC Fast Track Countries’ Tournament at Singapore Indian Association ground today. At stumps, Nepal were 91/1 in 29.1 overs, riding on opener Paresh Lohani’s 48 and Kanishka Chaugain’s 30, giving Nepal a comfortable 153-run lead going into the final day. Nepal ended the day with 11 points, while the hosts team earned 7.5 points.

Earlier, Nepal — who resumed at 206/8 — declared its first innings at 229/8 in 88 overs, riding on opener Paresh Lohani’s brilliant half century. Manoj Vaisya (17) and Raj Kumar Pradhan (5), both not out overnight, added 22 runs in five overs before skipper Binod Das declared the innings. Singapore could not start well in its first innings losing opener G Meyer for a duck at the hands of skipper Das, while other opener S Sajith scored 36 off 90 balls

before being the first victim of Raj Kumar Pradhan.

The star leg-spinner returned with the figures of 24-5-59-5. C Janik, who scored 31 off 86 balls fell to spinner Raju Basnyat, who added other two scalps to his credit for 3-31. Seamer Mehboob Alam also claimed 3-18 off six overs, as the home team struggled to build partnerships. In the second innings, Nepal openers gave another solid start putting up 78 runs on the board. Opener Paresh Lohani, who scored 71 off 140 ball in the first innings, scored 48 off 100 balls before returning to the pavilion retired hurt. Other opener Kanishka Chaugain scored 30 off 66 balls, and Mahesh Chhetri (4) was at the crease when the stumps

were drawn.