The U-21 cricket team sent an alarming bell to the national squad defeating them in a Twenty20 practice match by a wicket at the TU Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The U-21 team is training for the 11th South Asian Games while the national team is preparing for the ICC World Cricket League Division 5.
National squad was restricted for 92 in 19.3 overs after they elected to bat.
Skipper Paras Khadka scored 25 runs off 27 balls including three boundaries and a six. Other contributor were Shakti Gauchan (13) and Bashanta Regmi (11). No other batsmen reached the double-digit score.
Chandra Saud was the pick of the U-21 bowler who took 3/7 in three overs. Pradeep Airee took two wickets while Amrit Bhattarai and Bhuwan Karki took a wicket each.
In reply, Bhuwan struck the winning runs for U-21 in the last over bowled by Sanjam Regmi. They needed six runs of the last over, and two runs in the last ball.
Earlier, Akash Gupta topscored with 27 runs with two sixes and a four while opener Anil Mandal contributed 22. Pradeep got 16.
Bashanta, Rahul BK and Sanjam took two wickets each for national squad. The teams will compete in a 40-over contest on Monday.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced the team for the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) cricket.
Gyanendra Malla will lead the Nepali team. Amrit Bhattarai, Chandra Saud, Binod Bhandari, Naresh Budhaair, Subash Khakurel, Sagar Pun, Prithu Baskota, Rupesh Sriwastav, Bhuwan Karki, Anil Kumar Mandal, Aakash Gupta, Amit Shrestha and Pradeep Aire are the other players.
Anupam Singh, Lokendra Chand, Rom Shrestha and Pradeep Sapkota are the reserve players.