KATHMANDU, MARCH 7
Nepal national cricket team defeated Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club by 111 runs in a practice match at the Navy Ground in Colombo today.
Batting first, Nepal were bowled out for 214 runs in 37.1 overs before packing the home side for 103 runs in 28.5 overs.
Nepal will play three more matches against first-class sides before leaving for the United Arab Emirates to participate in the tri-series under the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II.
Except for former skipper Gyanendra Malla (one), all other Nepali batters scored in double figures. Dipendra Singh Airee top scored with 43 off 52 balls hitting three fours and six, while Asif Sheikh struck five boundaries in his 38-ball 36. Binod Bhandari scored 22 off 25 balls, while Kushal Bhurtel, Kamal Singh Airee and Karan KC contributed 16 each.
Rohit Kumar Paudel and Sagar Dhakal scored 13 each, while skipper Sandeep Lamichhane and Bikram Sob scored 11 apiece. Dipendra Singh Airee and Binod Bhandari shared the highest partnership of the innings adding 55 runs for the fifth wicket.
A Akurugoda was the pick of the Navy SC bowlers taking 4-59 from 9.1 overs, while A Awadt grabbed 3-31.
S Sathish and D Madushan claimed one wicket each.
In reply, M Madushanka top scored for Navy SC with 39 off 68 balls that included four boundaries and a six, while S Sanjeewa (15) and D Madushan (14) were the only other batters who contributed in double figures.
Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane took 3-18 from 7.5 overs, while Bikram Sob and Gyanendra Malla claimed two wickets each.
Karan KC, Kamal Singh Airee and Sagar Dhakal bagged one wicket apiece.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 8, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
