Kathmandu – Nepal registered a comprehensive 176 runs win against the Bloomfield Cricket club in the second practice match of their Sri Lanka tour today.
Dependable Middle-ordered, Dipendra Singh Airee, making a well-crafted century was the highlight of the match for Nepal.
Winning the toss, Skipper Paras Khadka didn’t hesitate to bat first but Opener Anil Kumar Sah fell early scoring a run-a-ball 17 runs in the fifth over. Skipper Khadka didn’t last long at No. 3 position and got bowled after scoring a brisk 23 runs. The other opener, Subash Khakurel (9 runs) threw his wicket away, after playing 33 deliveries upfront.
Rohit Kumar Paudel, playing at No. 4, was a bit defensive today but he too gave his wicket easily, after playing for 11 runs from 39 deliveries. Nepal’s innings was in a spot of bother at twentieth over losing four wickets for 84 runs.
Then came the much-needed partnership between Dipendra Singh Airee and Sagar Pun for the fifth wicket. Pun playing his comeback match after almost a year made a well-compiled half-century. He fell eight-run short of a hundred, playing 83 deliveries with 8 fours and 3 sixes. The massive-partnership of 185 runs between these two took the scoreboard to 269 runs in 46th over.
Karan KC smacked 26 runs from 12-balls with 4 fours and a six before departing at the last over. All eyes were on Dipendra Singh Airee after he reached the three-figure mark from 90 balls in 47th over. His sensational inning was ended after scoring 121 runs from 96 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes.
Sanoj Dharsika took the three scalps in the final over before Nepal compiled a massive 323 runs on the board.
Pacer Lalit Bhandari dismantled the top order and Sagar Pun grabbed the three middle-order wickets to restrict Bloomfield for 134 for 9 in 38 overs before the bad light stopped the match. However, a decision was made later and Nepal won the match by 176 runs with D/L method.
Basant Regmi, Paras Khadka & Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Nepal will play their last practice match on Sunday, August 26, against Colts Cricket club, before departing to Malaysia on August 28 to play the Asia Cup Qualifiers.
