Nepal’s winning spree in their World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) preparation tour of India continued as they crushed Tamil Nadu ‘A’ by 147 runs on a back of a century from Sharad Vesawkar in Chennai on Saturday. 

Vesawkar got involved in two big partnerships as Nepal piled a mammoth 311-5 from 50 overs. Opener Sagar Pun and middle order batsman Dipendra Singh Airee also scored half centuries for Nepal who were without regular skipper Paras Khadka. Tamil Nadu were bundled out for 164 in 45.3 overs. 

Nepal began their innings cautiously after opener Gyanendra Malla, a centurion against Mylapore Recreational Club, shared 46 runs for the first wicket in 9.3 overs. Malla did most of the scoring in the stand making 31 off 37 with six boundaries. 

Vesawkar then joined the creased and together with Pun stitched a 147-run partnership for the second wicket. Pun made 77 from 99 ball with four boundaries and a six. New man Airee and Vesawkar added another 56 runs for the third wicket as Nepal headed towards a huge total in the game. 

While Airee kept smashing Tamil Nadu bowlers, Vesawkar completed his century off 118 balls hitting 11 boundaries before he was out for exactly 100. Nepal soon lost Binod Bhandari (seven) but Airee’s whirlwind knock lifted Nepal above 300 runs. 

Airee struck 73 from just 37 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Vignesh Rao picked up two wickets for the local team. 

Karan KC gave Nepal the breakthrough removing Tamil Nadu openers (D Anchit) and Arvind Raj (three) in a space of three runs as the visitors continued to pile pressure. R Sathyanarayan offered some resistance for Tamil Nadu making 67 from 85 balls with five fours and two sixes before losing his wicket to leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. 

Sathyanaran shared 45 runs for the sixth wicket with Barath (22) - their second highest scorer. Lamichhane returned the figures of 3-49, while Sushil Kandel also took two wickets.

Nepal are preparing for the WCLC away matches against Hong Kong scheduled for October 13 and 15. They will round up the Chennai tour with the fourth practice match on Monday.