Nepal faced a seven-wicket defeat against India Under-23 in their opening match of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Savar, Bangladesh, on Thursday.

Put to bat first, Nepal were bundled out for 193 runs in 44.5 overs at the Krira Shikkha Protisthan No 3 Ground before India surpassed the target in 42 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Nepal’s underperforming batting was exposed once again as they made a shaky start to their innings. Nepal lost opener and skipper Gyanendra Malla, who lately has appeared out of touch and form, without scoring a single run as he was bowled by Saurabh Dubey in the second ball. Prior to the tournament, Malla had scored only six runs over two innings against the Marylebone Cricket Club in the three-day match played at home while contributing only 10 runs in the only 50-over match against the 'home of cricket' club.

Kushal Bhurtel and Sharad Vesawkar then added 53 runs for the second wicket. Bhurtel, who contributed 28 off 60, met with a similar fate as that of Malla when he was bowled by Parth Rekhade in the 17th over. Aarif Sheikh (2) made an early return to the pavilion as Nepal found themselves struggling at 58-3 in the 19th over.

Vesawkar (44) and vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee (24) provided brief stability to Nepal’s innings before they departed in the span of four balls. The duo contributed 44 runs for the fourth wicket before Airee was dismissed in 28.2 overs while Vesawkar was trapped leg before in the last ball of the same over. Vesawkar hit a boundary and a six before in his 76-ball knock as Nepal appeared to be heading towards a batting collapse with the scoreboard reading 104-5.

Allrounder Pawan Sarraf, the top scorer for Nepal with his innings of 56 runs from 49 balls saved Nepali blushes and ensured the team finished with a respectable total. Sarraf, who hit seven fours and two sixes, however, did not receive able support from the non-striker’s end.

Karan KC (20) was the only other notable contributor for Nepal. Rajbanshi (0) was the last Nepali wicket to fall when they had managed a modest total of 193 runs on the board. Dubey was the most successful Indian bowler with four wickets to his name. Yash Rathod picked three wickets while Rekhade scalped two.

India made a solid start to their run chase as openers Belur Ravi Sharath and Aryan Juyal featured in a 74-run partnership for the first wicket. Sharath missed his half-century by a single run facing 49 balls. He was trapped leg before by Sushan Bhari in the 14th over. India then lost Juyal (29) in the next over as he was clean bowled by Lalit Rajbanshi.

Sanvir Singh and Armaan Jafar built a 103-run partnership for the third wicket with both batsmen completing their half-centuries. Singh (56) hit four fours before being caught by Rajbanshi off Karan KC. Jaffer ensured the win for India remaining unbeaten for 51 runs off 77 balls.

The eight-nation tournament features five Test-playing countries along with three associate sides. Nepal are placed alongside Bangladesh and Hong Kong in Group 'B' while Group 'A' includes Pakistan U-23, Oman, Sri Lanka U-23 and Afghanistan U-23. Top two sides of each group qualify for the semifinals scheduled for November 20 and 21.

Nepal’s next match is against Hong Kong on Saturday before taking on Bangladesh U-23 on Monday.