A century from stand-in skipper Gyanendra Malla failed to avert Nepal’s defeat as it went down by 47 runs against Rajwada Cricket Team on Sunday in its first practice match of India tour at the Gautam Buddha University Ground in Greater Noida, India.
Nepal is in a week-long tour of India as part of preparation for its upcoming match against Kenya to be held on March 11 and 13 at TU ground, Kirtipur. However, the team is without skipper Paras Khadka since he is recuperating after undergoing appendicitis surgery on February 18. He will join the national team training after the team returns home on March 3.
Chasing 282-run target set by Rajwada after losing the toss, Nepal was bowled out for 234 runs in 47.1 overs.
Gyanendra, who took charge of opening Nepal’s innings, cracked 104 runs off 125 deliveries before he was trapped leg before by Mohammad Saffi in the 39.3 over. He smashed 10 boundaries.
The other opener Aasif Sheikh was out for a duck after he was trapped leg before by Sunil Soraen in the fourth ball of the innings. Number three batsman Sagar Pun was the second highest scorer for Nepal with 28 runs off 44 balls under his belt. He played 75 runs stand for the second wicket with Gyanendra before he was trapped leg before by Naresh Nama.
Binod Bhandari contributed 20 runs while talisman Shakti Gauchan (14 runs) and Basnata Regmi (unbeaten 12 runs) were the only other player to reach double digit figures. Rajesh Pulami (8 runs), Sharad Vesawkar (4 runs), Dipendra Singh Airee (9 runs), Mehboob Alam (4) runs and Sompal Kami (0) were out cheaply.
Mohammad Saffi was the most successful bowler for Rajwada pocketing four wickets. He gave away 42 runs in his four-over spell.
Earlier, opener Rajat Chapparwal scored 91 runs for Rajwada as it made 281/7 at close of the 50-over format match. He cracked nine boundaries and two sixes in his 80-ball knock before being trapped leg before by Sandeep Lamichhane.
Number four batsman Madhur Khatri came up with remarkable contribution of 90 runs from 115 balls. He hit five fours and three sixes before being caught by Gyanendra off Karan KC. Lower middle order batsman Mohammad Saffi contribution of 52 runs off 32 deliveries.
Sandeep pocketed highest two wicket for Nepal while Sompal and Karan bagged one each.