Ashan’s unbeaten 72 propels Sri Lanka to victory over Nepal

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Nepal’s Dipendra Airee and Sammu Ashan from the Sri Lanka Under-23 team struck identical unbeaten knocks of 72 for their respective teams, but it was the Sri Lankan’s innings which helped his side record a close six-wicket win at the Men’s South Asian Games Cricket Competition, played at the Tribuvan University ground in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.

Electing to field, Skipper Charith Asalanka may have been confident about his decision until the arrival of Airee. Airee walked to the crease when Nepal were down by two wickets for 33 runs in the fifth over, but he made Sri Lanka regret their decision, hitting an unbeaten knock of 72 runs off 44 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three sixes. 

Airee took charge of one end and made the others contribute to Nepal’s total of 172 for the loss of 5 wickets, an impressive total against a side with more experience. 

Airee saw opener Gyanendra Malla (21), Binod Bhandari (21) and allrounder Pawan Sarraf (22) chip in with useful knocks. Malla’s 20-ball 21 had two boundaries, while Bhandari’s 21 came off 23 deliveries including a boundary. But the knock of Sarraf was the one which helped Airee step on the gas, which helped Nepal reach an impressive total of 172-5 in 20 overs. Sarraf smashed 22 off just 13 balls, inclusive of two fours and a six.

Kamindu Mendis picked up two scalps conceding 34 runs, while pacemen Asitha Fernando and Kavishka Anjula and spinner Duvindu Tillakaratne claimed a wicket each.

Sri Lanka got off to a quick start in their run chase when openers Pathum Nissanka and Nishan Madushka put on 36 runs for the first wicket in just three overs. Nissanka smashed 30 runs in just 12 deliveries, inclusive of three fours and two sixes. Madushka’s knock of 46 came off 42 balls and featured five boundaries and a six, and Sri Lanka soon were on the back foot after losing the wickets of Kamindu Mendis and skipper Asalanka in quick succession. 

While others fell victim to the Nepali bowlers, Madushka held his end and finally found a perfect partner in Sammu Ashan, who hammered an unbeaten 72 off just 44 deliveries to see Sri Lanka through to the victory post, with five deliveries to spare. Ashan’s knock had four boundaries and five sixes, and made him the ideal choice for the Player of the Match Award. All-rounder Sarraf picked two wickets for Nepal.

Sri Lanka will meet Bhutan today in their second game of the SAG Cricket Competition, before taking on the Maldives and Bangladesh in the following two days.

Nepal 172 for 5 wickets (50) (Gyanendra Malla 21, Aarif Sheikh 19, Dipendra Airee 72 not out, Binod Bhandari 21, Pawan Sarraf 22, Kamindu Mendis 2/34)

Sri Lanka Under-23, 179 for 4 wickets (Pathum Nissanka 30, Nishan Madushka 46, Sammu Ashan 72 not out, Ashen Bandara 14 not out, Pawan Sarraf 2/20)