19th Asian Games: Nepal enters quarterfinals by defeating Maldives by 138 runs

Nepal has entered the quarterfinals by beating Maldives by a wide margin of 138 runs in a match today in the men’s cricket tournament at the 19th Asian Games. Nepal’s fast bowler Abinash Bohara, who took a record six wickets against Maldives, has helped the country get to the quarterfinals.

Now, Nepal, the winner of Group ‘A’, will take on one of the teams of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Winning the toss and batting first in Hangzhou, China, Nepal scored 212 runs at the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Chasing the target of 213 runs, Maldives was restricted to just 74 runs in 19.4 overs.

In the match, Bohara bagged a record six wickets, becoming the first Nepali bowler to take six wickets in T20 international cricket. He gave away 11 runs in 3.4 overs. Earlier, Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC took five wickets each for Nepal in T20 international cricket.

Sompal Kami, Lamichhane, Gulshan Jha and Kushal Bhurtel took one wicket each. For Maldives, Muawiyath Ghanee hit highest 36 runs off 34 balls with two sixes and two boundaries. Similarly, Rasheed Rassam made 12 and Fareed Shius 10.

For Nepal, Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel made highest 52 runs off 27 balls with three sixes and three fours. Likewise, Kushal Malla remained unbeaten on 47 off 20 with three sixes and three boundaries. Kushal Bhurtel made 35 off 18 with one six and five boundaries, Jha 35 off 21 with three sixes and one four, and Binod Bhandari 13 off 15 with one four.

On the bowling side, Maldives’ Ismail Nazuwan took three wickets. Earlier in its first match, Nepal defeated Mongolia by a wide margin of 273 runs. Nepal booked a place in the quarterfinals by remaining unbeaten from Group ‘A’. With the defeat, Mongolia and Maldives placed into Group ‘A’ have been eliminated from the tournament.

Test status nations, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have directly qualified for the quarterfinals. Hong Kong has entered the quarterfinals from Group ‘B’, and the team to be making it to the quarterfinals from Group ‘C’ has not been decided yet.