KATHMANDU: Nepal has set a target of 160 runs against home team Sri Lanka at its first match of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U-19 underway at R Premadasa International Cricket Ground in Colombo on Friday.

Electing to bat first after losing the toss,  Nepal notched up 159 runs in 42 overs losing nine wickets.

Rit Gautam top-scored with 54 runs including four fours off 85 balls, RK Paudel hit 47 runs off 80 balls while Rashid Khan made 15 runs off 22 balls. Similarly, HB Chauhan contributed 12 runs while the other batsmen could not reach double-digit runs.

In reply, D Madushanka grabbed 3 wickets of Nepal giving away 23 runs in 8 overs, ND Paranavithana claimed 3 wickets conceding 26 runs while A Daniel and R Sanjaya took one wicket each of Nepal. The match was reduced to 42-overs under DL method after the rain disturbed the tournament.

Having been a test-plying nation, Sri Lanka is considered a tough team. Nepal has not defeated Sri Lanka in the history of Asian Cricket Council U-19, yet.

Nepal is drawn in Group ‘B’ with home team Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup which involves eight teams. Nepal has to win at least two games to reach among the top four teams.