Nepali U-19 team lost their sixth and final match of India tour to Andhra Pradesh U-19 by one wicket in a thrilling match in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

The Nepali team is currently in India to fine tune their preparations for the upcoming ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifier beginning in Malaysia from April 10. The six-match practice tour has ended with Nepal winning 4-2. Nepal will play alongside Kuwait, Oman, Singapore and Malaysia in the Asia Qualifier from where only the winners will make it to the 2020 U-19 World Cup in South Africa.

Sundeep Jora scored a half century before a gritty knock from Rashid Khan guided Nepal to 251-9 in 50 overs. Nitesh Kumar led the Andhra Pradesh reply with a half century before Nepal sniffed victory reducing the local team to 219-9. But the last pair of Johny Basha and V Karthik Reddy (12) denied Nepal the victory taking the team to 252-9 in exactly 50 overs.

Basha contributed an all-important 32 off 30 balls hitting two sixes and a boundary. It was Kumar who had kept Andhra Pradesh in the game with crucial partnerships with the middle order — the biggest being a 67-run fifth wicket partnership with Dharani Kumar.

Kumar top scored in the match with a 108-ball 74 that included four boundaries and two sixes. Dharani also made 32 off 53 balls. P Subramanyam (29) , Ram Prasad (27) and SMD Kamil (22) were other notable contributors for Andhra Pradesh. Pawan Sarraf took 3-31 for Nepal with Pratis GC also getting two scalps.

After losing opener Sarraf (duck) early Rit Gautam (22) and Avishek Basnet consolidated Nepali innings with a 49-run partnership. Nepal then lost three wickets in a space of 11 runs including both the batsmen and skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel (zero). Basnet made 35 from 51 deliveries hitting six boundaries.

Jora stepped in and together with Hari Bahadur Chauhan shared 113 runs for the fifth wicket pushing Nepal towards 200-run mark. Nepal once again suffered a mini collapse after Jora, Kushal Malla (one) and Chauhan headed back to the pavilion in a space of three runs. Jora scored 69 off 67 with four boundaries and three sixes.

Chauhan chipped in 35 off 68 with two boundaries. From 178-7, Khan pushed Nepal to a challenging total sharing 59 runs with Sher Malla (17). Khan made a run-a-ball 44 striking three fours and two sixes. I Ismail took four wickets for Andhra Pradesh.