An all-round India U-23 defeated Nepal U-23 by 84 runs in a Group A match of the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup in Singapore.
It was skipper Suryakumar Yadav who contributed with bat (65 off 39 balls) and ball (8-1-21-1) and bagged the Man of the Match award.
Inserted in to bat, India set Nepal a target of 269 runs, owing to a 118-run opening partnership between Lokesh Rahul (88) and Unmukt Chand (61). Left-arm spinner Basant Regmi picked up three wickets for Nepal but for expensive 90 runs in 10 overs. This was mainly due to Yadav’s late onslaught of eight fours and two sixes.
Nepal never looked in charge with the bat, thanks to disciplined and nagging bowling from the Indian spinners. Ankit Bavne (9-1-36-3) was the pick of India’s bowlers while Jasprit Bumrah played the perfect support cast with two wickets.
Nepal’s only resilience came from No.8 batsman Sagar Pun, who finished with an unbeaten 52, as his team finished with 184 for 8 in their stipulated 50 overs.
Brief scores: India Under-23s 268 for 5 (Rahul 88, Yadav 65, Regmi 3-90) beat Nepal Under-23s 184 for 8 (Sagar 52*, Bawne 3-36, Bumrah 2-35) by 84 runs
