Nepal national women’s cricket team suffered a 33-run defeat against Sri Lanka Development Squad in their rain-affected first T20 practice match in Surrey Village, Maggona, Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Chasing a revised target of 96 in 15 overs, Nepal could only manage 63 runs, losing nine wickets.

Rubina Chhetri top-scored for Nepal with 17 runs off 17 balls, while Sita Rana Magar made a sluggish 11 runs facing 28 deliveries.

Dewmi Vihanga was the pick of Sri Lankan bowling, returning match figures of 3-7. Shehani took 2-10.

Earlier, Sri Lanka Development Squad posted 118-8 from their 20 overs on the back of 27 runs each from Imesha Dulani and Kaushini Nuthyangana.

Samban Rai took 3-14 for Nepal, while Rajmati Airee picked 1-12.

Nepal play their second and third T20 practice match against the same side on Wednesday and next Tuesday, respectively.

The warm-up games are part of Nepal’s preparation for the 2024 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, which takes place from July 19 to July 28 in Dambulla.

Nepal, drawn in Group A, will open their Asia Cup against the United Arab Emirates on July 19. They play their next group matches against 2012 and 2016 runners-up Pakistan on July 21 and holders and record seven-time champions India on July 23.

Group B includes former champions Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand.

It will be Nepal’s third appearance at the biennial competition after previously participating in the tournament in 2012 in China and 2016 in Thailand.

India are the most successful side of the competition, having won seven of the last eight editions. Bangladesh won the 2018 edition.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played on July 26.

The final is set for July 28.