Nepal lost first of the two friendly games against Afghanistan by 83 runs on Monday in a clash between two U-19 World Cup preparing teams at the St Stephen College grounds in New Delhi.

In the match reduced to 45 overs due to wet outfield, Afghanistan rode on a fine performance from their top and middle order to amass 232-8. Nepal succumbed to the spin attack from Zia-Ur-Rehman to be out for  149 in 43.1 overs.

Nepal lost their first six wickets for just 50 runs inside 21 overs after Rehman picked up four and Karim Janat had two scalps. Ishan Pandey (one), Sunil Dhamala (11), Yogendra Karki (six), Aarif Sheikh (four), Raju Rijal (duck) and Rajbir Singh (seven) fell cheaply.

Shankar Rana and Dipendra Airee pushed the team beyond triple figures with a 66-run seventh wicket partnership before both batsmen were dismissed in the space of three balls. Airee was out for a 40-ball 42, while Rana made 39 off 77 balls.

Kushal Bhurtel scored 23 off 28 deliveries with five hits to the fence. Rehman finished with the figures of 5-16 from eight overs.

Earlier, Afghanistan had a solid start after Karim Janat (14) and Naveed Obaid added 58 runs for the first wicket. Sandeep Lamichhane and Sushil Kandel struck in a space of four runs, removing both the openers. Obaid made 44 off 33 with 10 boundaries.

Ishanullah Janat and Tariq Stanikzai then added 99 runs for the third wicket as Afghans laid foundation for a big total. Stanikzai made 64 off 49 and four sixes, while Ishanullah scored 37 off 69 balls. Ikram Khail also struck 41 off 43. Aarif Sheikh halted the run flow taking three wickets in the closing stages. Sheikh took 3-40 and Lamichhane 2-43 for Nepal. The two teams will clash again on Wednesday.