KATHMANDU, MARCH 30

Nepal national cricket team outplayed Malaysia by six wickets in the Tri-Nation's T20I Series here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first, Malaysia posted 114-8 in their allotted 20 overs before the home team reached 117-4 with 38 balls to spare. With their second straight win, Nepal are at the top of the table with four points, while Malaysia are second on two. Papua New Guinea are yet to open their accounts.

The three teams will face each other in the second round of the league and top two will make it to final slated for April 4.

Malaysia's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired as Karan KC bowled Virandeep Singh for a golden duck in the first ball of the innings. Another opener Zubaidi Zulkifle and Ahmad Faiz added 49 runs for second wicket.

Kushal Malla separated the pair when he bowled Zulkifle, who struck three fours and two sixes.

Nepal reduced Malaysia for 74-4 in the 13th over and the tourists lost another four wickets for 18 runs.

Skipper Faiz scored 24 off 38 balls hitting three fours, while Muhammad Amir (16) and Syed Aziz (14) contributed in double figures. Karan KC (2-16) and skipper Sandeep Lamichhane (2-27) shared four wickets between them, while Abinash Bohara, Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee bagged one each.

In reply, Aasif Sheikh scored a brilliant half century to lead Nepal's run chase. Nepal lost opener Kushal Bhurtel (one) and Rohit Paudel (12) with just 25 runs on the board before Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee added 70 runs for the third wicket to take the home team close to victory.

Airee struck one each four and six in his 17-ball 21, while Sheikh scored a quick fire 57 off 38 balls that included seven boundaries and a six.

Debutante Dilip Nath and Kushal Malla (two) completed the formality adding nine runs for unbroken fifth wicket. Nath struck three fours in his seven-ball 15 not out in his debut T20I match. Pavandeep Singh took 2-23 for Malaysia, while Muhammad Amir and Ayed Aziz bagged one wicket each.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 31, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.