KATHMANDU: United States of America (USA) defeated Region-III (Kathmandu) by 73 runs in a warmup match ahead of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-V here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first, the USA scored a massive 333-8 and restricted Kathmandu for 260-7 in 50 overs. The USA were indebted to man-of-the-match Lennox Cush (92), Rashard Marshall (61) and Orlando Baker (56). Openers Baker and Clain Williams (28) put on 47-run before Rom Shrestha broke the stand in the seventh over. Baker added further 75 for the second wicket with Steve Massiah (37) before the opener was caught and bowled by Sunam Gautam in the 25th over. Baker hit seven boundaries in his 81-ball innings.

Cush stole the show thereafter hitting an explosive 92 off just 52 deliveries. When Abhaya Rana finally had the batsman caught by Sanjay Shrestha in the 41st over, Cush had already struck eight boundaries and seven sixes. The Kathmandu bowlers had little respite as Rashard Marshall took over from where Cush had left. Marshall struck 35-ball 61 with six sixes and two fours. Abhaya was the pick of the Kathmandu bowlers with 3-87. Rom also grabbed two while Kalam Ali and Sunam took one wicket each.

Kathmandu openers Paresh Lohani (39), who have opted out of the Division-V, and Subash Khakurel (50), who is in the reserved list of players, gave Kathmandu an ideal start putting on 95 runs. But the target was too big to achieve as they could only muster 260 in 50 overs. Lohani scored seven fours in his 43-ball knock while Khakurel hit seven fours and two sixes in his 37-ball innings. Sanjay also made 34-ball 33 with three fours and a six.

Suman Uday top scored for Kathmandu with 53 off 74 balls while Rom scored a patient 40 from 82 balls. Uday hit six fours while Rom struck one six and as many a four. Imran Awan took 3-30, Sudesh Dhaniram 2-20, Kevin Darlington 1-16 and Timraj Allen 1-25 for the USA.

The Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-V starts here on February 20.