KATHMANDU, April 3: Nepal’s U-19 national cricket team suffered a heavy defeat to Afghanistan, losing by 130 runs in a practice match held at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground on Thursday.
With this win, Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Afghanistan set a target of 301 runs for Nepal, and Nepal fell short, getting all out for 170 runs in 46.2 overs.
Nepal's opener, Niraj Kumar Yadav, played a solid knock of 53 runs, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes off just 61 balls. Santosh Yadav contributed 24 runs from 39 balls, hitting 1 four. Ashok Dhami scored 24, Abhishek Tiwari made 17, and captain Naren Bhatt added 13 runs.
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Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Wahidullah Zadran, Ziaullah Shahidi, and Mehboob Khan claimed two wickets each, while Abdul Azizi, Noristani Umjain, and Najifullah Amir took one wicket each.
Earlier, Afghanistan, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted a total of 300 runs, at the loss of 9 wickets in the allocated 50 overs. Afghanistan’s Faisal Khan Shinwaz scored 97 runs, including 9 fours and 4 sixes from 88 balls. Khalid Ahmadzai made 76 runs from 107 balls, hitting 6 fours, while Barkhat Ibrahimzai added 35, Uzairullah 24, Azizi Miah Khahil 21, and Najifullah Amiri contributed 10 runs.
For Nepal, Santosh Yadav grabbed three wickets, Abhishek Tiwari claimed two, and Dayanand Mandal and Bipin Prasad Sharma each took one.
Both Nepal and Afghanistan are preparing for the U-19 Men's World Cup Asia qualifiers, where the two teams will play a series of practice matches. The second game of this series will be held on April 6.
