Kathmandu, October 14:

Nepal bowled out Malaysia for 132 runs and scored 114/4 in the first innings on the first day of the three-day ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament match here today.

Skipper Binod Das’ decision to field first after winning the toss worked as the home team dismissed the tourists before tea. Seamer Das returned with the best figures at the end with 3-32 off 13.4 overs. Dhirendra Pradhan ably supported his skipper with 3-36, while opening bowler Mehboob Alam took 2-22. Spinners Sanjam Regmi and Raj Kumar Pradhan got one wicket each.

Malaysian batsmen could not start well in front of Nepali seamers and lost four early wickets at the score of 25. Binod was the first to strike, shattering opener Rohan Selvaratnam’s off stump for nine runs.

Binod then claimed the new batsman, Arul Vivasvan Suppiah (5), a brilliant catch by Paresh Lohani at gully. Mehboob, who shared the new ball with Binod, reduced Malaysia to 20/3 when he had other opener Rakesh Madhavan caught behind by Manoj Katuwal for five runs.

Mehboob then trapped No 4 Shankar Retinam lbw for four, leaving Malaysia struggling at 25/4 in 15 overs. S Muthuraman and Eszrafiq Ab Azis shared a 21-run partnership, before Dhirendra Chand struck in the 22nd over. Azis returned to the pavilion, caught behind for 13 runs.

Chand then trapped Muthuraman lbw for 16 runs. M Krishnamurthi top-scored with 49 off 100 balls, which included six fours.

In reply, Nepal opener Paresh Lohani and Kanishka Chaugain had a good start with a half-century partnership and were looking good before Rohan V Suppiah struck dismissing Lohani for 35. Lohani hit six boundaries in his 61-ball innings.

Kanishka Chaugain followed Lohani without adding to their opening stand of 62 runs. Chaugain was caught at first slip by Azis off the bowling of Manrick Singh Varick Singh for 26 off 81 balls, which included four fours.

Sharad Vesawkar failed to open his accounts and had his leg stump uprooted by Manrick Singh, while Paras Khadka was caught at short mid-on for 17 runs.

Vice captain Shakti Prasad Gauchan remained unbeaten on 20, along with Mehboob Alam, who hit two fours, was not out on nine runs.

Nepal earned seven points, while Malaysia got 4.5. Nepal coach Roy Luke Dias said that there was still a long way to be happy. “It was a lucky toss to win, and our bowlers well utilised the conditions,” he said.

“We lost three wickets for nothing,” he added. “It’s still a big task in batting. I hope Mehboob (Alam) and Shakti (Gauchan) will carry on to their batting tomorrow,” he said. “The first hour will be crucial. After that we can plan our further strategy,” said the Sri Lankan coach.

Malaysia coach Michael John Bailey said that they returned into the match in the last session. “The last session belonged to us,” he said. Praising Nepal’s bowling, Bailey said that home team bowlers used the conditions well. He also said that the first session on Saturday would be crucial for both the teams.

SCOREBOARD

MALAYSIA — 1ST INNINGS

R Selvaratnam b Das 9

R Madhavan c Manoj b Alam 5

AV Suppiah c Lohani b Das 5

S Retinam lbw b Alam 4

S Muthuraman lbw b Chand 16

E Ab Azis c Manoj b Chand 13

M Krishnamurthi c Manoj b Das 49

RV Suppiah c Sharad b Chand 11

S Navaratnam lbw b Sanjam 9

M Muniandy c Kanishka b Raj Kumar 1

M Singh not out 4

Extras: 6 (nb 3, lb 3)

Total: 132 (55.4 overs)

FoW: 1-13, 2220, 3-20, 4-25, 5-46, 6-71, 7-87, 8-100, 9-107

Nepal bowling: M Alam 11-2-22-2, B Das 13.4-4-32-3, D Chand 13-3-36-3, S Gauchan 4-1-9-0, S Regmi 9-1-22-1, RK Pradhan 5-1-8-1

NEPAL — 1ST INNINGS

P Lohani c Suhan b Rohan 35

K Chaugain c Azis b Manruick 26

S Vesawkar b Manrick 0

S Gauchan not out 20

P Khadka c Muthutharan b Arul 17

M Alam not out 9

Extras: 7 (nb 1, lb 6)

Total: 114/4 (44 overs)

FoW: 1-66, 2-66, 3-79, 4-104

Malaysia bowling: S Navaratnam 10-3-26-0, M Muniandy 5-0-12-0, M Singh 12-3-23-2, RV Suppiah 8-1-28-1, AV Suppiah 5-1-7-1, E Ab Azis 4-1-12-0