Biratnagar, Nepal – The Nepalese cricket team concluded their Sri Lanka tour with a disappointing five-wicket loss to the Sri Lanka Development Squad in the final practice match. Despite the absence of several key players, Nepal was unable to secure a victory in the series.
Chasing a modest target of 160 runs, the Sri Lanka Development Squad reached their goal in just 26.5 overs, losing five wickets in the process. K Sanjula was the standout performer for the winning side, scoring a quick-fire 68 runs from 60 balls. Ashen Bandara and Ravindu Rashantha also made significant contributions with 34 and 25 runs respectively.
For Nepal, Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha picked up two wickets each, while Lalit Rajbanshi claimed one. Despite their efforts, Nepal was unable to prevent the Sri Lanka Development Squad from securing a comfortable victory.
Earlier in the match, Nepal had been bowled out for 159 runs in 40 overs. The touring side was missing several key players, including captain Rohit Paudel, DS Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Bhim Sharki, Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud, and Rijan Dhakal. Sompal Kami led the team in their absence.
Nepal’s batting lineup struggled, with Asif Sheikh and Anil Sah being dismissed cheaply. Kushal Bhurtel and Kushal Malla top-scored with 43 and 35 runs respectively, while Aarif Sheikh and Karan KC contributed 20 and 15 runs. The lower order failed to provide the necessary support, with Sandeep Jora, Gulshan Jha, and Sompal Kami unable to make a significant impact.
Garuka Sanketh was the standout bowler for the Sri Lanka Development Squad, taking four wickets for 39 runs.
Despite the defeat, Nepal’s tour to Sri Lanka served as a valuable preparation for the upcoming CWC League 2 series in Canada. The team will now travel to Canada for the second tri-series, where they will face Oman and Canada. Nepal will be aiming to improve their performance after suffering three defeats in the previous series.
