KATHMANDU, MARCH 10
Four batsmen scored half centuries as Nepal national cricket team thrashed Sri Lanka Police by 144 runs in their practice match at the SL Police grounds in Colombo today.
Batting first, Nepal amassed 331-8 in their allotted 50 overs before packing the home side for 187 runs in 36.5 overs. Nepal had defeated Sri Lanka Navy in the first two matches in a practice tour ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II in the United Arab Emirates.
Nepal posted a strong total riding on half centuries from Asif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Kumar Poudel and Karan KC, while Kamal Singh Airee remained unbeaten on 45 off 36 balls that included four boundaries and two sixes.
Poudel top scored with 77-ball 72 hitting two each fours and sixes, while Bhurtel struck eight boundaries in his 48-ball 57. Likewise, Sheikh scored 52 off 50 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.
Aarif Sheikh contributed 26, while Binod Bhandari, Bhim Sharki and Pawan Sarraf were dismissed cheaply in the space of 11 runs.
Openers Asif Sheikh and Bhurtel put on 107 runs in 13 overs, while Karan KC and Kamal Singh Airee shared a 102-run partnership for the eighth wicket before the former was dismissed in the ball of the innings.
Rohit Poudel and Aarif Sheikh added 62 runs for the third wicket. T Sampath and M Priyadarshana bagged two wickets each for SL Police, while C Jayathilaka, D Rajkaruna, D de Silva and S Arandara grabbed one apiece.
In reply, SL Police were reduced to 7-3 inside four overs and they were reeling at 79-7 at one stage. Skipper C Silva and L Madusanka added 85 runs for the eighth wicket to steady the innings they lost two wickets in the space of one run before being folded. Silva top scored with 64 off 65 balls hitting eight boundaries, while Madusanka remained unbeaten on 44-ball 50 that included six fours and a six - the only maximum conceded by Nepali bowlers. Wicketkeeper L Wevita contributed 37 runs for the home team. Karan KC returned to take 3-20 from six overs, while Kamal Singh Airee, Sagar Dhakal and skipper Sandeep Lamichhane grabbed two wickets each.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 11, 2022, of The Himalayan Times
