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Nepal opens tour with a bang
Khadka, Chaugai and Gauchan help Nepal to a thrilling win
By M. Shamil Amit
The Nepal national team who are on a three match tour of Sri Lanka on their way to the ICC World Cup Division Two Trophy qualifying series cricket tournament to be held in Malaysia this month began their tour on a winning note when they beat the strong Colts CC by three wicket in a 50 over game played at the Colts grounds yesterday.

The Nepalese played their hearts out and performed well to restrict the strong batting line to 43.3 overs and bowling them out for 181. It was right arm pacie Paras Khadka who did the damage taking 5 for 43 in the nine overs he bowled. For Colts Sajith Fernando did the bulk of the scoring hitting a sedate while Muthumudalige Pushpakumara chipped in with a 41.

In reply Nepal though losing their first wicket on 7 were helped by two good partnerships one for the second wicket of 44 runs between Mahaboob Alam and Kanishka Chaugai and the other for third wicket of 75 runs between Chaugai who made 51 and Shakthi Gauchan who remained unbeaten on 67 which put the foundation for their win.

Former Sri Lanka test player Roy Dias who is the coach of the Nepal team was a happy man as his team confronted with players who had immense experience playing first class cricket. Colts had most of their top players representing them and it was what Dias wanted.

He said:” I wanted my boys to face quality fast bowlers and a strong team to give them the much needed experience”. He is grateful to Chaminda Vaas. On his request they played the match. Speaking further about the conditions how they play cricket in Nepal he stated that there is no cricket at school level but he trains boys from Under 15 onwards. They are groomed to participate at tournaments like the Asia Cup, Under 19 World Cup and other major tournaments. He said they have the talent and they are dedicated and interested in the game, the only hitch is they are poor. The Asian Cricket Council supports the Nepal Cricket Board with the much needed finance and through that the cricket equipment are being given to the boys.

Another setback to their cricket is that they play in matting pitches and there is only one turf pitch which is in Kathmandu. Nevertheless with all these shortcomings the boys attend practice.

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