India youth team outplays Nepal in Emerging Teams Cup

Kathmandu, November 14

Nepal national cricket team faced a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of India U-23 in the Group A match of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan grounds in Savar today.

Batting first, Nepal were bowled out for 193 runs in 44.5 overs before the Indian team raced to 194-3 with 48 balls to spare.

Nepal made a disastrous start losing skipper Gyanendra Malla, bowled out by Saurabh Dubey for a duck in the second ball of the innings. Another opener Kushal Bhurtel and Sharad Vesawkar added 54 runs for the second innings to revive the innings before losing two quick wickets at the hands of Parth Rekhade. Bhurtel — who made the national team debut though the List A match — was bowled for 28 off 60 balls that included two fours, while Aarif Sheikh (two) fell cheaply, caught by Armaan Jaffer.

Vesawkar and vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee added 44 runs for the fifth wicket before they were dismissed in the space of two runs. Yash Rathod trapped Vesawkar leg before the wicket for 76-ball 44 that included one each four and six, while Airee struck three fours in his 24 off 31 balls. Binod Bhandari (five) and Sompal Kami (two) failed to stay at the crease for long, while Pawan Sarraf and Karan KC tried to steady the innings and added 31 innings but the Indian bowlers did not let them build on the partnership. Sarraf top scored with 56 off 49 balls that included seven fours and two sixes, while KC struck one each four and six in his 16-ball 20.

Dubey was the pick of the Indian bowlers taking 4-26, while Rathod claimed 3-38. Rekhade grabbed two and Siddharth Desai pocketed one wicket.

In reply, Indian openers BR Sharath and Aryan Juyal put in 74 runs inside 15 overs before Nepal removed them in the space of seven runs. Sharath scored run-a-ball 49 hitting eight boundaries and a six, while Juyal struck three fours in his 43-ball 29.

Sanvir Singh and Armaan Jaffer hit half centuries to take the match away from Nepal with a 97-run partnership for the third wicket. Singh scored 73-ball 56, while Jaffer remained unbeaten on 51 off 77 balls that included one each four and six. Karan KC, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Sushan Bhari took one wicket each for Nepal.

Nepal — who got the opportunity to participate in the tournament only after the United Arab Emirates pulled out — will face Hong Kong on Saturday before taking on Bangladesh on November 18. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Oman are in Group B. Top two sides will make it to the semi-finals. The final is slated for November 23.

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