Nepal lost their second match in their trip to Europe losing to St Cross Club by 19 runs in a Twenty20 practice game on Monday.

Electing to bat first at St Cross grounds, a quick-fire half century from Jimmy Adams guided the hosts to a challenging 168-6 in 20 overs. Nepal got off to a solid start, courtesy a gritty knock from opener Anil Kumar Sah but the middle order failed to cash in on the start as they were restricted to 149-8.

Anil gave Nepal the desired start after he added 47 runs in the first five overs with his opening partner Subash Khakurel (run-a-ball 10). Stand-in skipper Gyanendra Malla tried to rebuild the innings but departed after making 18 off 12 with a six and a four. The 70-1 soon became 77-4 as Nepal lost Dipendra Singh Airee (three) and Sharad Vesawkar (duck) in a single over to Felix Organ. Anil, who opened his account with a six, was next to go for a 48-ball 56 that also included six boundaries. Rohit Kumar Paudel (one) fell cheaply as Nepal fell to 102-6 in 15 overs.

Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami kept Nepal in the game with a 42-run seventh wicket partnership but once the former lost his wicket, St Cross hung on for a slim victory. Aarif was the second best scorer for Nepal with a 24-ball 34, his knock included two hits to the fence and one over the rope. Sompal hit a four and a six in his nine-ball 16.

Earlier, St Cross were reduced to 33-2 in five overs before Adams held the innings together with a match-winning 83-run stand for the third wicket with Organ. Adams made a 48-ball 72 hitting nine fours and two sixes, while Organ chipped in 39 from 29 deliveries. He hit two fours and as many sixes. Tom Scriven contributed a 16-ball 23 to the St Cross total. Basanta Regmi and Sompal took two wickets each for Nepal.

Nepal are now scheduled to play against East London XI in another 50-over practice match on Wednesday. Nepal had started the tour by a 243-run humbling of Hampshire Hogs in the first practice match on July 21. They will also meet East London Sharks in a Twenty20 game to wrap up the practice games before returning to the Lord’s grounds in London.  

Nepal will play against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Netherlands in a Triangular Twenty20 cricket tournament on July 29. They will then head for the Netherlands to play their first ever One-Day International Series on August 1 and 3 in Amstelveen.

Summary

St Cross 168-6 in 20 overs (J Adams 72, F Organ 39; B Regmi 2-26, S Kami 2-34) beat Nepal 149-8 in 20 overs (AK Sah 56, A Sheikh 34; F Organ 3-15, H Trussler 2-21) by 19 runs