Nepal U-19 cricket team ended the Bangladesh tour with a 68-run loss in the one-off Twenty20 match against Bangladesh U-19 at Sylhet on Saturday. Nepal U-19 have lost also the two One-Day matches against the same opponent in their ACC (Asian Cricket Council) U-19 Elite Cup build-up.
Nepal U-19 were in Bangladesh for three practice matches ahead of their participation in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup scheduled to be held in Thailand from Tuesday.
Bangladesh U-19 have put on a 151-run target for Nepal at the Sylhet Divisional Stadium on Saturday and restricted Nepal at 82/8 in the limited 20 overs.
Opener Subash Khakurel was run out in the first over of the innings while No 3 Pradeep Airee could not open his account. Faizal Khan struck a boundary and a six but was unlucky to be run out for 12 runs.
Sagar Pun, who showed some skill in Bangladesh, scored 18 runs to be the highest scorer of the innings. Naresh Budhayer and Captain Prithu Baskota returned pavilion scoring four runs each. Bowling all-rounder Rahul Kumar BK struck a six and added 17 runs off 30 balls. Shiva Kumar Tandukar hit two boundaries for 14 runs.
Krishna Karki and Bhuwan Karki remained unbeaten without scoring any run. Nasum Ahmed and Jobber Hussein claimed two wickets each. Hussein, who claimed altogether 10 wickets in the two One-Day and a T20 matches, was adjudged man of the series.
Earlier, Bangladesh elected to bat and scored 150/5 in 20 overs. Bhuwan Karki and Vice-captain Rahul Kumar BK took two wickets each for Nepal while skipper Baskota claimed a wicket.
Nepal U-19 were not seen up to the mark in fielding. They were sloppy in ground fielding meanwhile wicketkeeper Khakurel´s missed three catching opportunity.
Nepali coach Jagat Tamata said the three matches against tough opponent Bangladesh was an important bonus for the team for the ACC tournament.
“We have learned a lot from here. We got an opportunity to face a tough spinner and came to know that we have to improve a lot in batting,” said Tamata. “If we can improve in the concerned area, we still can achieve our target in Thailand and that is to lift the trophy,” added Tamata.