Nepali Sports Dot Com

Kathmandu, May 11, NS report -
Shakti Gauchan’s half century and Sanjam Regmi’s five wicket haul helped CAN XI win the final of the three friendly matches against Pakistan Cricket Academy (PCA) by 15 runs, at TU ground on Sunday.  PCA had won the earlier two matches played as preparation for Nepal’s WCL Div 5.

Batting first Nepal scored 136 runs in 38.2 overs. Pakistani openers in reply scored 47 runs in the first two overs however stand in skipper Paras Khadka thought ahead and deployed spin attack which got the tourists out by the 29th over. Chasing a modest target Ahmed Shahzad hit five fours off left arm seamer Amrit Bhattarai’s first over and his opening partner Raheel Majeed hammered Dhirendra Chand for four boundaries and a six in the second over. Paras then changed the bowling and brought spinners Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi. Shakti had Raheel, who got 27 off 14 with five fours and a six. He was caught by Gyanendra Malla in the last over before lunch and PCA were 63/1. Basanta at the other end got Ahmed out, who scored 32 off 25 with seven fours. Despite the fall of the wickets Pakistan continued to play aggressive strokes until skipper Khalid Latif, who was on 20 off 22, was sent to the pavilion by Sanjam in the 13th over. The team score was 91 for four at the time. Rest of the batsmen crumbled out without reaching double figures.  Saradh bagged two wickets. While Basanta took three wickets for 28 runs in eight overs. Man of the match Sanjam on the other hand bowled 8.3 overs on a tort for five wickets and gave away only six runs. Thus bringing PCA’s innings to an end at 121 runs in 28.3 overs. Both the skipper and the coach were overjoyed with the win and claimed that this will certainly help Nepal perform well in the WCL Div 5. Earlier Shakti Gauchan controlled the CAN XI innings and added 56 runs for the seven wicket partnership with the wicket keeper Mahesh Chhetri.  Mahesh made 20 of 20 balls. The other batsman to reach double figure was Paresh Lohani, he made 11 runs.