Cricnepal/Kathmandu – Nepal Cricket team lost their 3rd and 4th Practice Match against Sri Lanka U-23 by 3 runs and 7 wickets respectively.
3rd Practice Match:
Nepal lost the 3rd practice match against Sri Lanka U-23 by just 3 runs. Srilanka won the toss and chose to bat first at Thurstan Complex Turf Cricket Ground. Opener Niroshan Dikwella & Udara Jayasundara made 40 & 28 respectively. Angelo Jayasinghe made a brisk 29 not out but none of the other batsmen could capitalize their innings. They were bowled out by Nepali bowlers for 168 runs in 48.1 overs.
Sagar Pun was out-standing with his bowling for Nepal as he took 6 for 26 in his 10 overs. Avinash Karn supported him by adding 2 wickets to his column.
Meanwhile, Chasing a tricky target of 169 runs, Nepal lost their way to win their first match of the tour. Wickets at regular interval caused Nepal to slow down the game. Binod Bhandari 40(61 balls) & Sagar Pun 31(42 balls) made the major contribution for Nepal but the match went wire in the last over. Shakti Gauchan needed four runs but was bowled for 8 runs leaving Nepal a 3 runs loss.
Nepal could manage only 165/9 in the 50 over.
4th Practice Match:
Nepal made 166 runs in their 50 overs after winning the toss in NCA Ground, Colombo losing their 7 wickets. Shakti Gauchan made unbeaten 31(46 balls), Basanta Regmi 30* off 55 balls guided along with him & Sharad Vesawkar 29(40 balls). The top ordered once again failed in this match.
Sri Lanka made it to the target comfortably in just 34.4 overs losing 3 wickets. Kushal Mendis 56(70) & Kithuruwan Vinthanage 48(55) were among the run getters for SL U-23 .
Jitendra Mukhiya, Avinash Karn & Basanta Regmi grabbed 1 wicket a piece.
Nepal lost all the four matches played against U-23 Srilankan side. Nepal’s batting is a big concern right now for the team as they are yet to score 200 in the tournament. Their highest run is 165 for 9 in 3rd match which they lost by 3 runs.
Nepal will wrap up the 15-day Sri Lanka tour on Tuesday – 13th August against a combined North East Team. Then will head to Singapore for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup to be held from August 17-25.
