KATHMANDU, Dec 16: A day after giving a tough fight to Sri Lanka, Nepali youth team failed to repeat such feat as it suffered a six-wicket defeat against India on Friday in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup played at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss against the Test nation, Nepal made 172/9 at close in the 50 over format. In reply, India achieved the target in 33.3 over for the loss of four wickets.
Nepal though did not make a bright start and lost wickets in regular interval, talisman Rohit Kumar Paudel anchored Nepali innings with an unbeaten 68 runs off 63 balls. Coming at number eight Rohit, left out against Sri Lanka, cracked seven fences and two sixes. €He smashed 24 runs in the last over.
Earlier, opener Sandeep Sunar scored seven runs off 35 deliveries while Aasif Sheikh contributed 18 runs off 32 balls. Dipendra Singh Airee, the highest scorer against Sri Lanka with 90 runs under his belt, contributed 34 runs. He hit four fences in his 62-ball knock to become the second highest scorer for Nepal.
Nepal suffers narrow defeat to India
Wicketkeeper Prakash KC was the fourth batsman for Nepal to score in double digit. He scored 13 runs off 18 balls that included three boundaries. Aadil Khan, Bhim Sharki were out for a duck wile Nandan Yadav remained not out without adding single run. Shuvankar Urao (nine runs), Pawan Sarraf (two runs) and skipper Sandip Lamichhane (seven runs) contributed for Nepal.
Rahul Chahar was the peak of Indian bowling claiming five wickets in his 10 over spell giving away 27 run with a maiden over. He removed first four batsmen of Nepal including opener Sandeep Sunar, Aasif, Aadil and Bhim. He also bowled out Nepal’s skipper Sandeep Lamichhane.
In the India’s run chase, Himanshu Rana (51 runs) and Shumman Gil (57 runs) player a crucial partnership of 86 runs for the second wicket. Himanshu cracked five boundaries in his 61 ball knock and Shubman fired four fences and two sixes facing 63 balls.
Priyam Garg (36 runs off 42 balls) and Salman Khan (19 runs off 25 balls) remained unbeaten as India made 174 runs in its chase.
Pawan Sarraf was the most successful bowler for Nepal claiming three wickets of India. He gave away 43 runs in his six over bowling. Skipper Sandeep was the other bowler to pick wicket.
The second win from as many matches puts India on top of the standing with four points while Nepal is yet to score account in points table. India had defeated Malaysia by 235 runs in its opening match while Nepal had gone down by one run against Test opponent Sri Lanka during their first match on Thursday.
Nepal will play its third match against Malaysia on Saturday.
