Nepal crash out from Emerging Teams Asia Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 18: Nepal made an early exit from the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup following their nine-wicket loss over India A at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Tuesday. 

The test nation India comfortably chased the 168-run victory target posted by Nepal in 22.1 over losing one wicket. 

This is the second defeat of Nepal in the tournament. Nepal lost their first match to Pakistan A by eight wickets. 

Along with Nepal another associate side UAE A also got eliminated after suffering 184 runs against Pakistan A. The UAE also lost heavily against India A in their first match. Both Nepal and the UAE A will be playing their last group match on Wednesday.

India and Pakistan advanced to the semifinals from Group A. India and Pakistan both garnered four points but former topped the table on a better net run rate.  

Half-century knocks from opener duo Sai Sudharsan and Abhishek Sharma eased India home. Sudharasan remained not out with 52-ball 58 that included eight boundaries and one six. Sharma cracked 12 fences and two maximums for his 69-ball 87 knock. The 139 runs partnership for the first wicket between Sudharsan and Sharma build the foundation for India’s second victory.

Dhruv Jurel hit two maximums and one four to collect not out 21 runs off 12 balls. 

Captain Rohit Paudel was the only wicket-taker for Nepal with a figure of 1-25. Pawan Sarraf became the most expensive bowler for Nepal by giving away 44 runs. Kishore Mahato conceded 33 runs and Lalit Rajbanshi spent 31 runs. 

Earlier, Nepal continued with their poor batting against India by losing quick five wickets. Nepal tottered to 37/5 in the power play. 

Rohit Paudel played the captain’s knock to rescue Nepal from 37/5. He was the only batter to cross a half-century with 65 runs off 85 balls. 

He paired with Sompal Kami (39-ball 14) to collect 53 runs for the sixth wicket and put on a 54-run stand with Gulshn Kumar Jha (30-ball 38) for 

the seventh wicket. 

Dev Khanal (21-ball 15) was the other double-digit scorer for Nepal. 

Nishant Sindhu was the main destroyer of Nepali batting with his four-wicket haul. Rajvardhan Hangargekar also did the damage by picking three wickets.