The two-day game between Nepal XI and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) ended in a draw here at the Tribhuvan University ground on Sunday.

MCC declared their first innings at 178-9 in reply to Nepal’s 228-8 declared on the first day. The home team on Sunday declared their second knock at 172-7 in 35 overs leaving a very little time for MCC to chase over 200 runs. At close, MCC were 38-1.

Resuming the second day at 72-5, MCC had skipper Neil Dexter to thank for the total. Dexter, who resumed at 21, scored 72 and his 84-ball knock included 14 fours and a six. Shakti Gauchan was the pick of the Nepal XI bowlers with 4-33, while Karan KC took 3-36.

In their second knock, Nepal XI were indebted to Pradeep Airee and Rajesh Pulami to pile on a big total. Airee made 73-ball 67 with six fours and three sixes, while Pulami made 49. Pulami struck nine fours and a six. Steve Clark grabbed 3-26 for MCC. MCC will round up their 11-day Nepal Tour with a Twenty20 match against Nepal  XI on Monday.

CAN prepares for fourth General Assembly

Kathmandu: Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Sunday met with National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Keshav Kumar Shrestha to discuss on the its impending fourth General Assembly that will elect a new central executive committee for the next four years.

“We are supposed to hold our General Assembly by mid-December but the date can be pushed back taking the consent of NSC,” said CAN President Tanka Aangbuhang refuting General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakurel’s version that they have fixed the date for December 14-15. CAN is flexing its muscle since Special Court’s ruling on November 5 to clear 10 of its officials of corruption charges.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on June 8 last year has charge-sheeted the 10 officials including Aangbuhang and Pyakurel for their alleged involvement in embezzling millions of rupees at different time frame. The CIAA had alleged the officials of embezzling a total of Rs 14.43 million from the funds provided by the government and international governing bodies.

A CAN statement on Sunday also said it has decided to reward the Under-19 cricketers with Rs 50,000 each for their successful campaign in the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier in October in Malaysia. Nepal earned a ticket to the U-19 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh next year.

CAN also announced a three-team Double Round Robin League tournament for Nov 27-Dec 2 in Kathmandu to prepare a strong team for the U-19 World Cup. CAN said it will form three teams including 14 players that represented Nepal in the Qualifiers in Malaysia along with four reserves. Rest of the players will be picked up from nine development regions.