After losing out Twenty20 by a wicket, National Team made the contest even with a 90-run victory over the U-21 Team in a 40-over practice match at the TU Cricket Ground.
National Team scored 193/9 in 40 overs – thanks to Shakti Gauchan’s 82 after Paras Khadka chose to bat first. In reply, U-21 Team was bowled out for 103 in 30 overs.
The highlights of National Team’s innings were Shakti’s knock and Chandra Saud’s bowling figure. While Shakti made 82 off 116 balls with five boundaries and featured in a 60-run partnership with Dipendra Chaudhary, Chandra took 5/49.
Dipendra scored 29 off 39 balls while other contribution came from Sharad Vesawkar (18), Paras (14) and Sagar Pun (12). U-21 Team also gave away 23 extras – 13 alone by Chandra.
Chandra grabbed top three and bottom two batsmen while Anil Mandal took two for 30 and Pradeep Airee took a wicket.
U-21 began badly losing top three men early. From 23/3, captain Gyanendra Malla and Prithu Baskota stabilized the innings with 52-run partnership before Prithu was out for 13. The lower order failed against spinners as the remaining six wickets fell for 28 runs in 10 overs.
Gyanendra scored 41 off 55 with four boundaries and a six.
Off spinner Sanjam Regmi took 3/10 while Rahul Kumar BK (2/7), Basanta Regmi (2/18) and Binod Das (2/16) were other wicket takers.
The National Team is training for the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 while U-21 Team is training for the South Asian Games.