Visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) began Nepal tour with an eight-run victory over CAN President’s XI at the TU Cricket Ground on Friday.
Nepal managed only 138 in 41.4 overs after spinner Nishel Patel took seven wickets while MCC were 77/4 in 25.2 overs when the rain interrupted the match and the visitors won the match on DL method.
Winning the toss, Binod Das elected to bat first and Nepal looked like going to score a good total when openers Paresh Lohani and Subash Khakurel partnered 70 runs in 15 overs.
But then Patel started making it harder. He held a return catch to oust Subash (21) and bowled Paresh, who topscored in the innings with 43 off 53 balls with four boundaries.
All other batsmen struggled against him and wickets fell frequently. The only two other batsmen reaching double figure were Sunam Gautam (13) and Pramod Basnet (unbeaten 13).
Man of the match Patel gave away only 29 runs in his 10 overs while Peter King took two wickets.
MCC began patiently with slow run rate scoring only 38 runs in 15 overs when Matt Walker (15) was bowled by Pramod. The seamer also got Ian Fletcher, the journalist cricketer, for 21. Fletcher played 41 balls and hit a four and a six before being adjudged lbw.
Manjeet then quickly got Keith Newell (5) and James Evans (1) to make it 49/4 in 20th over. At the time, Nepal was probably looking at victory.
Keith Parsons (16 not out) and Jason Finch (7 not out) then took MCC to a total that proved winning when the match was called off due to rain.
MCC next plays a one-day match on Monday.
Brief score: CAN President’s XI – 138 in 41.4 overs (Paresh Lohani 43, Subash Khakurel 21, Nishel Patel 7/29, Pete King 2/27) lost to MCC – 77/4 in 25.2 overs (Ian Fletcher 21, Keith Parsons 168, Pramod Basnet 2/17, Manjeet Shrestha 2/22) by 8 runs under Duckworth Lewis method.