Kathmandu, January 23

Pakistan U-19 team defeated Nepal U-19 by 110 runs in the official practice match of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in Dhaka on Saturday.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 291-5 in 50 overs and restricted Nepal to 181-9 in 50 overs at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan cricket grounds in Savar. Opener Zeeshan Malik top scored for Pakistan with 83 off 85 balls that included 12 fours and two sixes, while Umair Masood made 53 off 34 balls hitting six fours and two sixes. Hasan Mohsin (37), Mohammad Umar (31) and Salman Fayyaz (31) also made contribution to team total. Sandeep Lamichhane claimed three wickets, while Prem Tamang and Sushil Kandel grabbed two wickets each for Nepal.

In reply, Pakistan bowlers not only checked the runs but also took wickets in regular intervals. Dipendra Singh Airee top scored for Nepal with 42 off 40 balls with three fours and three sixes, while skipper Raju Rijal

struck six fours in his 37 off 61 balls. Aarif Sheikh (26), Ishan Pandey (20), Kushal Bhurtel (14) and Rajbir Singh (10) were the other Nepali batsmen who scored in double figures. Sameen Gul, Shadab Khan, Saif Ali and Arsal Sheikh claimed two wickets each, while Saif Badar took a wicket for Pakistan.

Nepal will take on Sri Lanka in their second and final practice match at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan cricket grounds 2 on Monday.

Nepal, who are in Group D, will open the campaign with a match against New Zealand on January 28 before taking on Ireland two days later. Nepal will the face India on February 1. Top two teams each from four groups will advance to the Super League, while the bottom two will play in Plate Championship.

Nepal, who are playing their seventh World Cup, had advanced to the second round in 2004 and won the Plate Championship two years later in Sri Lanka.