Nepal loses to Sri Lanka by 55 runs

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 30: Nepal suffered defeat in their first game of the ACC Men's U-19 Asia Cup on Friday. Nepal lost to Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the match played in Sharjah, UAE.

Winning the toss, Nepali skipper Hemant Dhami decided to field first. While Nepali youngsters restricted Sri Lanka to a decent total, they could not chase it successfully.

Sri Lanka posted a target of 234 runs in the loss of 10 wickets. They lost the last two wickets in the last over while trying to extend the total as much as they could. 

Skipper Dhami was the first to give relief to the team as Sri Lankan opener Pulindu Perera (2 off 7) was caught out by Santosh Yadav in the third over. The second wicket for Nepal came in the 12th over when Dulnith Sigera (24 off 31) was struck for an lbw by Naren Saud. 

However, Nepal could not keep the momentum. Sri Lanka lost Vimath Dinsara as their third wicket in 20.3 overs when they were at 88 runs. But their fourth wicket fell only in the 35th over.

In-at-three Sharujan Shanmuganathan (62 off 99) and in-at-five Lakvin Abeysinghe (50 off 53) built a decent partnership in the middle overs. And with Kavija Gamage's not-out knock of 37 off 44, Sri Lanka posted 233 runs on the board.

Santosh Yadav went on to bag four wickets, while Yuvraj Khatri took two; Naren Saud and Hemant took one each. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan batsmen only hit 13 fours and a six across the 50 overs in the first inning. Nepal responded with eight fours and six sixes. 

Nepal defensively approached the target, believing they could chase it with enough wickets in hand. Nepal lost its first wicket, Aakash Tripathi (19 off 33), in the 11th over when the team was at 39. 

The defensive play was, however, putting pressure not only on Sri Lanka but on Nepal as well. As the required run rate rose with every low-scoring over, Nepali batsmen were forced to open their arms, and it did not benefit them.

Losing Arjun Kumal (12 off 25) in the 21st over and Santosh Yadav (10 off 24) in the 27th, Nepal had lost four wickets when Mayan Yadav departed in the 30th. Mayan was the highest scorer for Nepal; he contributed 62 off 91 with three fours and two maximums.

By the time Nepal added 65 more runs, Nepal lost all its wickets. Nepal was bundled out for 178 runs in 46.2 overs suggesting that they had a chance for a win if they played until the 50 overs.

Praveen Maneesha bagged three wickets while Newton Ranjithkumar, Kugadas Mathulan and Vihas Thewmika took two each for Sri Lanka. Viran Chamuditha also claimed one.

Nepal now faces Bangladesh and Afghanistan on December 1 and 3 respectively.