Cricket
Nepal pull off comfortable victory against Sri Lanka Navy
The visitors beat the Sri Lankan sports club by 111 runs after posting 214 and bowling out the home team for 103 in the first 50-over practice match.
Sports Bureau
Nepal national cricket team registered a comfortable 111-run win over Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club in a 50-over practice match played at the Navy Ground in Welisara, Sri Lanka, on Monday to fine-tune the visiting team's preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 triangular series.
Batting first, Nepal were restricted at a moderate total of 214 runs in 37.1 overs before they bowled out the home team for 103 runs in 28.5 overs.
Nepal are in Sri Lanka to play four practice matches against local teams of Sri Lanka before flying to compete in the United Arab Emirates series of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 triangular series involving the hosts and Papua New Guinea to take place from March 15 to 22.
Nepal will vie against the same opponents Tuesday before taking on Sri Lanka Police on Thursday and Sri Lanka combined XI of First Class players on Friday.
Dipendra Singh Airee was the highest contributor for Nepal scoring 43 off 52. The all-rounder, who came to bat at number four, hit three fences and a six before being caught by S Sathish off A Akurugoda. Openers Asif Sheikh contributed 38-ball 36 and Kushal Bhurtel scored 13-ball 16.
Binod Bhandari contributed 22 off 25 while Kamal Airee and Karan KC scored equal 16 runs before their departure. Rohit Paudel (13), Sagar Dhakal (13), captain Sandeep Lamichhane (11), Bikram Sob (not out 11) scored for Nepal while former captain Gyanendra Malla was out for a run.
Sri Lankan bowler A Akurugoda grabbed four wickets in his 9.1 over bowling giving away 59 runs with a maiden over. A Awadt pocketed three wickets in his 10-over spell with a maiden over conceding 31 runs.
Sri Lanka Navy made a shaky start to their run chase and kept losing wickets on regular intervals and were 3-13 inside four overs. Opener cum captain W Mayantha was caught by Aasif Sheikh off Bikram Sob in the fifth delivery of the innings with four runs under his belt.
M Madushanka was the highest scorer for Sri Lanka Navy scoring 39 off 68 before he was trapped leg before by captain Lamichhane. He hit four boundaries and a six. S Sanjeewa and D Madushan were other major batters to touch double digit figures contributing 15 runs and 14 runs respectively.
Nepal captain Lamichhane was the pick of bowling claiming three wickets in his 7.5 overs bowling. He conceded 18 runs. Former captain Malla and Bikram Sob both picked two wickets apiece. Malla conceded eight runs in his single-over bowling while Sob conceded 13 runs in his four-over spell.