Nepal enter semi-final as Group winner

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 1: An all-around performance from Ashok Dhami helped Nepal defeat host Malaysia by 84 runs and enter the semi-final as the Group A winner at the ACC U-16 East Zone Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Batting first at Bayuemas Oval cricket ground, Nepal accumulated 183 runs in 33.4 overs losing all the wickets. Malaysia, in reply, was bundled out for 99 runs in 30.5 overs.

Dhami claimed four wickets in the carnage of Malaysia. Captain Abhishekh Tiwari dismissed three batters and Santosh Yadav picked up two wickets to restrict Malaysia cheaply.

Mohammad Hairil (25), Captain Mohammad Alif (15), Muhammad Akram (12) and Areen Aqeel (not out 10) were the only double-digit scorers for Malaysia. Three batters were out for nought while others struggled to score a maximum of six runs for the home team.

Earlier, Dhami shone with his bat to smash a half-century knock of 52 runs from 36 balls. He cracked five sixes and three fences to contribute the highest for Nepal.

After Nepal tottered to 91/7 in 21.4 overs Dhami paired with Naren Bhatta to lead Nepal to 136 with a 45-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Bhatta fell for 43-ball 29. Dhami, then, put on a 31-run stand with Kritik Kamat (17-ball 16) for the ninth wicket to help Nepal post a medium score.

Opener Suryanshu Koirala added 29 runs and Dipu Kumar (15) was another double-figure contributor to Nepal’s batting.

Haziq Haiqal, Muhammad Akram, Areean Aqeel and Muhammad Muqri picked two wickets each for the losing side.

The loss meant Malaysia finshed as runner-up of Group A to enter the semi-final.