Dharamsala- Aarif Sheikh’s all-round performance handed Nepal U19 three wicket win over Himanchal Pradesh Cricket Association XI (HPCA XI) in the second match of Nepal U19’s preparation tour of India ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup 2016 in Bangladesh.
Sheikh took three wickets with the bowl and then scored 35 not out as Nepal successfully chased a target of 171 runs given by HPCA XI losing seven wickets. Nepal won the toss and invited the home team to bat first. Aarif, Sandeep Lamichhane and Prem Tamang shared eight wickets between them to bundle out HPCA XI 170 for 10 in 36.3 overs.
Sheikh and Tamang took three wickets each while Lamichhane bagged two wickets. Two batsman got run out for the home team. Opener Digbijay Singh and Ayush Janwal scored 51 runs and 47 runs respectively for HPCA XI.
Chasing the target, Nepal kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Skipper Raju Rijal (45 runs from 54 balls) and Sheikh 35* made useful contributions that helped Nepal chase the target in 38.3 overs with three wickets remaining. Apart from Rijal and Sheikh, Sunil Dhamla and Yogendra Karki contributed 30 and 29 runs respectively. Ayush Janwal took three wickets for the HPCA XI.
Nepal U19 had lost to the same team in the first match by 2 wickets.
Match Summary-
Nepal U19- 171/7, 38.3 ov, Aarif Sheikh 35*(39), Raju Rijal 45(54), Ayush Janwal 3 for 25, beat
HPCA XI- 171/10, 36.3 ov, Digbijay Singh 51 (46), Ayush Janwal 47 (41), Aarif Sheikh 3 for 29, by three wickets.
