KATHMANDU: The ACC Twenty20 Cup preparing Nepali national cricket team lost both of its friendly Twenty20 matches against the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) XI today in Delhi.

Nepal lost the first match by 26 runs and suffered a seven wicket blow in the second.

In the first match, Nepal —who elected to field — were restricted for 138-4 while chasing 164 runs. Vice-captain Gyanendra Malla smashed 52 off 41 balls but his valiant effort went in vain. Skipper Parash Khadka remained unbeaten on 25-ball 37 while Dipendra Chaudhary scored 26 off 28 balls.

Mehboob Alam scored 12 runs while Binod Bhandari (3) and Paresh Lohani (1) failed to reach the double figure mark. Earlier, DDCA-XI made a modest 164-5 after Ankur Jhulka smashed 44-ball 54. Parash Khadka was the most economical bowler for Nepal and picked up two wickets giving away 23 runs in four overs. Former captain Binod Das and Basanta Regmi claimed one wicket apiece.

According to the Nepali team manager Naresh Kumar Shrestha, Nepal lost the grip in the second match as they could only muster 82 runs losing nine wickets in 20 overs.

Opener Paresh Lohani played 50 balls while top scoring the teams’ scorecard with 26 runs while Mehboob Alam made 17 runs in 18 balls.

In reply DDCA-XI sailed home in 12.3 overs with seven wickets in hand. Sawari Khan fired 41 off 35 balls and Puneet Mehra collected 22 runs from 18 balls.

Binod Das was the notable among the bowlers picking up a wicket and conceding 11 runs in 3.3 overs that also included a maiden over.

Basanta Remi picked up a wicket but was expensive giving away 22 runs in his two-over spell.