Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 24:

Singapore openers G Meyer (64) and S Sajith (39) shared a 101-run partnership as the hosts denied a victory to Nepal on the third and the final day of the Fast Track Countries’ Tournament at Indian Association Ground today. Nepal earned 17 points, while the hosts Singapore accumulated 12.5 points. Set 273 to win, Singapore finished at 178/7 . Earlier, Nepal — who resumed at 91/1 — declared the second innings at 210/4, with opener Paresh Lohani completing a century. Lohani became the first Nepali batsman to score century in Fast Track Tournament. Lohani, retired hurt last night at 48, resumed his batting on the third day and scored 103 off 191 balls. Mahesh Chhetri, 4 overnight, failed to add to his score, while vice captain Shakti Prasad Gauchan, who shared a 88-run partnership with Lohani, scored 57 off 78 balls. In Singapore’s second innings, leg spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan took 3-74 to add to his first innings tally of 5-59, while skipper Binod Das also claimed three wickets, as Nepal went close to the first win in the Fast Track Tournament. Last year, Nepal lost to UAE and Hong Kong, while the matches against Singapore and Malaysia were drawn.