Kathmandu/Cricnepal: Papua New Guinea U-19 defeated Nepal U-19 by eight wickets in a warm-up match played ahead of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, in Brisbane, Australia on Tuesday.
Winning the toss, Nepali opener batsman Subash Khakurel and Pradeep Airee gave Nepal a perfect start. Middle order batsman except Hasim Ansari and the lower batsman displayed a poor performance as Nepal was restricted to 213 runs in just 43.3 overs.
Nepal reached 44 in 6.2 overs before they lost Pradeep Airee for 25 runs as a first wicket. Airee hit 5 fours in his 19 balls inning.
Prithu Baskota could not play after having problem in ankle during the run in the very first ball. Naresh Budhayer was trapped leg before wicket as Nepal was at the score of 56 runs. Sagar Pun, Rajesh Pulami were caught respectively in 16.4 and 18.1 overs.
Subash Khakurel scored 68 runs off 85 overs with 8 fours before being caught out by Sese Bau in the ball of Alei Nao in 32.2 overs.
Hasim Ansari who joined the crease as the number 7 batsman shared 90 runs partnership with Subash. Ansari completed half century in 56 balls and later added 81 runs off 80 balls hitting 11 fours. Ansari was later caught by Kabua Vagi Morea in first ball of the 42nd over.
Nepal lost the lower order cheaply. Nepal was at 190 for 6 at a stage and lost the remaining wickets in just 23 runs.
Chad Soper remained the pick up of the bowlers as he picked up five wickets. Raymond Haoda, Norman Vanua, Charles Amini and Alei Nao shared wicket apiece for PNG.
In reply, PNG chased the target in 40.3 overs with losing two wickets.
In defending the target, Nepali bowlers built the pressure towards PNG for the first four overs. PNG openers Vagi oala and Lega Siaka played in style and later turned the score to 54 for 0 after 10 overs. PNG was struggling at 2 for 0 after 4 overs.
Rahul Vishwakarma made a first break through for Nepal as PNG lost a wicket in 21.1 over in the score of 77 runs. Vagi Oala was stumped at the score of 35 runs.
Lega Siaka had already been a danger man for Nepal after he smashed century. Siaka was caught by Saurabh in the ball of Rahul 37.6 overs. Siaka scored 106 runs off 112 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes. Siaka shared a 126 runs partnership with Christopher Kent.
Kent scored 55 runs off 54 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes remaining unbeaten.
Rahul Vishwakarma’s two wickets were the only wickets for Nepal.
Nepal will play against New Zealand tomorrow as the second warm up match. The tournament starts from August 11.
