KATHMANDU, Nov 2: A spirited performance from Nepal U-19’s leg-spin bowler Sandeep Lamichhane and spinners could not prevent a closely contested first practice match going the Bangladesh way. Towhid Hridley held on to an end guiding Bangladesh to a win by three wickets after Sandeep Lamichhane finished his match figures of 10-1-25-4. Bangladesh won the match by three wickets in the first practice match between two teams at the BKSP ground, Dhaka.
Opening batsman Naim Sheikh (53) scored a well time fifty at top of the innings setting up the match for Bangladesh before Nepal spinners made an inroad into the match with Shahab Alam and Pawan Sarraf chipping in with a wicket each to their name. Bangladesh completed the chase in 39th over as Hridley remained not out on 48 runs.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field. Nepal finished the total on 153 runs losing nine wickets playing all 50 overs.
Bangladesh U-19’s Hasan Mahmud and Kazi Anik scalped three wickets each on route to limiting Nepal U-19 for 153 runs in the allocated 50 overs in the first practice match of the Bangladesh tour played at BKSP ground, Dhaka.
Aasif Sheikh (33) was the top scorer for Nepal before falling prey to Hasan Mahmud. Bhim Sarki also chipped in with 28 runs as none of the rest of the Nepal batsman reached 20 runs mark.
The Nepal junior team is at Bangladesh to play practice matches on November 2, 4 and 5 at Krira Shikkha Protisthan ground as a preparation for the immediately following Asia Cup. The Nepali young team is taking part in the ACC U-19 Youth Asia Cup to be held in Malaysia from November 11 to 19.