Kathmandu, December 15
Nepal’s U-19 cricket team was beaten by Sri Lanka’s youth side by just one run in the first of their ACC Youth Asia Cup fixture that went to the wire in Colombo on Thursday.
Pacer and opening bowler Kamal Singh Airee set the tone for the match claiming a Lankan scalp in opener Vishwa Chaturanga. Hasitha Boyagda, who came in at number three looked threatening with his 83 0ff 106 balls. But a sharp Prakash KC behind the stumps rattled the stumps at the non-striker end to run him out.
The other batsman who looked to threaten was Krishan Arachchige, who made 28 off 47. But spinner Pawan Sarraf sent him to the pavilion with a stellar ‘caught and bowled’. Ashen Bhandara, who came in at no. 6 showed some resolve as he inched closer to a half century, but he too ran out of partners as wickets tumbled at the other end.
Nepal’s charge was initially led by Aadil Khan, who came in at number 3. He made 39 off 69 balls and was involved in a 45-run partnership with Dipendra Airee to cement what could have been Nepal’s historic win. Sri Lanka used as many as eight bowlers against Nepal.
Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, who made a patient half century, needed to score two runs with three balls remaining, but got out bowled. Nepal were short on luck, and Sri Lanka won by just one run!
