Sports
Nepal wrap up India tour with another loss
Nepal wrapped up their ICC U-19 World Cup preparation with yet another defeat against Afghanistan in their second practice match at the St Stephen College ground in New Delhi, India on Wednesday.Nepal wrapped up their ICC U-19 World Cup preparation with yet another defeat against Afghanistan in their second practice match at the St Stephen College ground in New Delhi, India on Wednesday.
Having lost the first game by 83 runs on Monday, the match was an opportunity for Nepal to salvage some pride. However, they paid the price for a middle order failure losing the match by 41 runs. Nepal will now return home on January 16 after undergoing some training sessions in New Delhi.
Afghanistan recovered from 35-4 and went on to make 212 all out in 49.5 overs with Shamshur Rahman slamming an enterprising half century. Nepal were bundled out for 171 in 41.3 overs.
Sunil Dhamala and Sandeep Sunar gave Nepal a decent start with a 48-run first wicket partnership. Afghanistan premier bowler Zia-Ur-Rehman halted the proceedings dismissing Sunar (17). Dhamala added another 27 runs with Yogendra Karki (15) before Rehman struck in successive balls, reducing Nepal to 75-3.
Dhamala was next to go for 45 after hitting six boundaries and a six in his 59-ball knock. That became 106-6 after Nepal lost skipper Raju Rijal (16) and Rajbir Singh (one) to Zahir Pakteen. Aarif Sheikh (28) and Dipendra Airee (23) tried to keep Nepal in the game with a 37-run stand but the former’s dismissal resumed the collapse.
Earlier, Dipesh Shrestha and Nandan Yadav picked up two wickets each reducing Afghanistan to 35-4 in 7.3 overs. Tariq Stanikzai and Rahman then tested Nepali bowlers with a fine 86-run partnership to take the game away from Nepal. Stanikzai was out for 37 off 60 that included three fours and a six.
Rahman kept playing his shots and, along with other batsmen, took the team beyond 200 runs. Rahman made 75 off 128 in an innings studded with eight boundaries. Waheed Shafiq also made 30 off 27 with three fours and a six. Kushal Bhurtel returned with figures of 3-41.