Nepal cricket team, which is in Sri Lanka for practice matches to prepare for the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifiers, defeated top-tier local club, Colombo Colts, by four wickets on Sunday in its first match of the tour.
Nepal bowled out Colts for 228 runs in 49.3 overs as skipper Paras Khadka and Avinash Karn took three wickets each. In reply, Nepal successfully chased the total with three overs and four wickets remaining as Subash Khakurel and Gyanendra Malla scored half centuries.
Shehan Fernando scored 51 runs off 69 balls for the host team while Muthumudalge Pushpakumara added 37 runs off 46 balls. Aruna Darmasena (34 runs) and Akila Dananjaya (25 runs) were other major contributors for Colts.
Nepali skipper Khadka claimed three wickets bowling 9.3 overs, including a maiden, and giving away 38 runs. Likewise, Karn’s bowling figure was 9-1-45-3. Meanwhile, Sagar Pun and Basant Regmi dismissed two batsmen each.
To guide Nepal to 232/6 in 47 overs, opener Khakurel scored 56 runs off 76 balls and Gyanendra Malla garnered 58 runs off 92 balls. Another opener Anil Mandal added 13 runs off 17 balls while skipper Khadka fell short to the crease after adding 12 runs off 18 balls.
Likewise, Sharad Vesawkar scored 17 runs off 28 balls and Binod Bhandari hit 21 runs off 32 balls. Pradeep Airee blasted unbeaten 27 runs off 19 balls and Sagar Pun remained not out with six runs off three balls.
Nepal will take on Moors Sports Club on Friday and lock horns with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority on December 24 and with Bloomfield Sports Club on December 26 during its stay in Sri Lanka. Nepal team will fly to New Zealand directly from Sri Lanka.
Nepal has a plan to have some practice sessions and matches in New Zealand before playing ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers. The qualifiers will be held in New Zealand from January 16 to February 1, 2014.