Skipper Paras Khadka and Dipendra Singh Airee struck fluent half centuries to steer Nepal to a comprehensive five-wicket win over Colts Cricket Club in a friendly cricket match in Colombo on Sunday.

The third successive victory in their preparation tour of Sri Lanka is a big boost for the Nepali team, who travels to Malaysia on Sunday for the ACC Asia Cup Qualifier set for August 29 to September 6. Nepal had opened their tour with a 67-run victory over Army Cricket Team in Panagoda, Colombo on Wednesday before seeing off Bloomfield Cricket Club by 176 runs on Friday. Airee had slammed a scintillating century while Sagar Pun gave an allround effort, scoring 92 and taking three wickets in Friday’s victory.

Nepal will play the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malaysia, Singapore, Oman and Hong Kong in the Qualifier which will send only the champions into Group ‘A’ of next month’s Asia Cup that includes world cricket giants India and Pakistan. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are in Group ‘B’ of the Asia Cup which the UAE is hosting on September 15-28.

On Sunday, Nepal restricted Colts to a mediocre 216 in 49.5 overs before coasting to victory for the loss of five wickets in 42.4 overs. Nepali pace spearheads Sompal Kami and Karan KC put the Colts on the backfoot early on reducing the local team to 44-4 in nine overs. But Hashan Hewanayake along with Ayana Siriwardana and Madura Lakmal ensured Colts post a respectable total on the board.

Hewanayake was particularly impressive scoring 59, his 67-ball knock included three sixes and as many fours. Siriwardana contributed a painstaking 81-ball 36 and Lakmal made a fluent 31 off 38 deliveries. Kami returned with figures of 3-34 from 9.5 overs while KC and Pun claimed two wickets each for Nepal.

Nepal made a sedate start to their run chase, openers Gyanendra Malla and Subash Khakurel putting on 42 runs for the first wicket. Lakshan Jayasinghe broke the stand in the ninth over but it only paved way for a match-winning stand between Malla and skipper Khadka. Malla fell five runs short of his half century, trapped leg before wicket to Siriwardane, but by the time the damage had already been done with 82-run partnership with Khadka.

Nepal had added just one run to the total when Khadka, who scored 58, also lost his wicket. However, Airee played with his usual flair to ensure easy passage to victory. Airee slammed five fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 52 off 53 balls while Aarif Sheikh remained 23 not out. Siriwardane took two, while Madura Lakmal, Lakshan Jayasinghe and Hasan Hewanayake snared one wicket each for the Colts.

Summary

Nepal 218-5 in 42.4 overs (P Khadka 58, DS Airee 52*; A Siriwardane 2-56, L Jayasinghe 1-37) beat Colts Cricket Club 216 in 49.5 overs (H Hewanayake 59, A Siriwardane 36; S Kami 3-34, Karan KC 2-57, S Pun 2-50) by five wickets