Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Academy team cruised to a seven-wicket win over CAN-XI in the first of the three friendly one-day matches here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium today.
Batting first, the Nepali national team players — who are under the closed camp for the World Cricket League Division-V Tournament to be held in Jersey later this month — could only muster 152 runs with 24 balls to spare in their allotted 50 overs.
After rain interrupted the PCB Academy run-chase twice, the visitors were given the revised target of 112 in 29 over which they overcame losing three wickets in 23.2 overs.
Earlier, CAN-XI openers Paresh Lohani and Mahesh Chhetri made a confident start against the formidable pace attacks of Wahab Riaz and Sohail Khan guiding the home side to 38 runs before Chhetri (nine) was trapped leg before wicket by Riaz. Lohani soon departed after scoring a fluent 23 off 30 balls that included five hits to the fence. Lohani was caught behind by wicketkeeper Sharfaraz Ahmed off Sohail Khan.
No 4 batsman Gyanendra Malla played a superb innings although CAN-XI wickets fell at regular intervals. Malla made 45 runs from 51 deliveries before spinner Imad Wasim deceived him with a quicker delivery to clean bowl him. Malla struck seven fours and a six. Basanta Regmi contributed 14 and allrounder Mehboob Alam 10 for the hosts.
Imad Wasim was the pick of the PCB Academy bowlers with 3-20 off nine overs. Riaz (2-31), Khan (2-25) and Yasir Shah (2-23) claimed two wickets apiece.
Chasing the revised target, PCB lost opener Khurram Manjoor Khan (18) at 39-1 but his opening partner Rahil Mazid went on to score 60. Man of the match Mazid hit 10 fours and a six and was the last PCB Academy wicket to fall.
Skipper Khalid Latif struck four fours in his unbeaten 24-ball 19 and Ahmed Shahzed chipped in 14. CAN-XI skipper Binod Das, Shakti Gauchan and Sanjam Regmi bagged one wicket each. The two teams will meet again here on Friday before playing their final match on Sunday.