Nepal registered an emphatic 144-run win over Sri Lanka Police to register their third win in a row at their Sri Lanka tour in Colombo after top order batters shone with runs at Police Ground on Thursday.

Openers Asif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, No 3 batter Rohit Paudel and lower middle order Karan KC all cracked half centuries as Nepal posted a challenging total of 331-8 in the 50-over match before bowling out the home team for 187 runs in 36.5 overs.

Nepal had registered victories over Sri Lanka Navy Club in the first two matches played on Monday and Tuesday. Nepal are in Sri Lanka to fine tune their preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series involving the hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Papua New Guinea to take place from March 15 to 22. Nepal are scheduled to play against Sri Lanka Combined XI of First Class players on Friday before flying to the UAE.

Electing to bat first, openers Sheikh and Bhurtel shared a 107-run partnership for the first wicket before the latter was bowled by C Jayathilaka. Bhurtel hit five fences and two sixes in his 50-ball knock before his dismissal in the 14th over.

Sheikh played 48-ball 57 that included eight boundaries before he was dismissed by D Rajakurana in the 22nd over. His sibling Aarif was the third wicket to fall, contributing 26 off 377. Paudel contributed 72 runs, the highest of the innings, in his 77-ball knock. He struck two fences and two maximums before his dismissal in the 40th over.

Binod Bhandari and Pawan Sarraf were out cheaply for three runs each while Bhim Sharki departed for two runs. All rounder Karan KC, who came to bat at number eight played a quickfire knock of 36-ball 53. He smashed six maximums before being dismissed in the last delivery of the innings.

Kamal Airee remained not out on 45 runs facing 36 deliveries. He hit four boundaries and two sixes.

Sri Lanka Police bowler T Sampath and M Priyadarshana grabbed two wickets each.

Sri Lanka Police made a shaky start to their run chase and lost three wickets for seven runs on board. Captain and middle order batter S Silva contributed 64 off 65, the highest of the innings, before he was bowled by Sagar Dhakal. Lower middle order batter L Madusanka remained unbeaten on 50 runs facing 44 deliveries.

Apart from the duo, L Wevita was the only other batter to collect a double digit figure for the home team scoring 37 off 53.

In bowling pacer KC grabbed three wickets for Nepal, while Kamal, Sagar Dhakal and captain Sandeep Lamichhane picked two wickets each. KC gave away 20 runs in his six over spell with a maiden over. Kamal conceded 33 runs in his seven-over bowling with a maiden over. Dhakal conceded 53 runs in his 10-over bowling and Lamichhane gave away 36 runs in his 6.5 over spell.