KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Nepal opened ACC U-16 Eastern Region Cricket Tournament with a 133-run win over home team Thailand on Monday. 

In the Group A match played at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok, Nepal won the toss and scored a total of 179 runs in the allotted 50 overs. 

In reply, Thailand was bowled out for paltry 46 runs in 19.3 overs after Nepal’s Narayan Joshi claimed five wickets.

Nepal made a positive start to the innings with its opening duo Kushal Malla and Rajan Magar creating a 33-run partnership for the first wicket. Malla made 13-ball eight whereas Magar scored 17 runs facing 18 balls. 

However, Nepal came under pressure after losing the third and fourth number batsmen Bishal Bikram KC (5) and Rit Gautam (16). 

But Trit Raj Das, who came to bat at fifth number, rescued the innings smashing 57-ball 39. 
He was supported by middle-order batsman Sunil Bhandari who made 23 runs in 33 deliveries.  
Top scorer Das built a 36-run partnership with Bhandari for the fifth wicket. 

Similarly, Pratis GC contributed 12 runs while Nikhil Kumar Singh made six runs. 
Kokiad Chatwong was pick of the Thai bowling as he bagged three wickets. 

He was supported by Kongkidakon Rueangrotchanchai and Chiraphong Liangwichian, who added two wickets each. 

Likewise, Thiraphat Konthong and Sarawut Maliwan claimed one wicket each for Thailand. 
Host Thailand made a disastrous start to its innings as it lost four batsmen for the ducks. 
Openers Phiriyapong Suanchuai and Thiraphat Konthong were dismissed for zero in Narayn Joshi’s deliveries while third number batsman Kongkidakon Rueangrotchanchai was also bowled out by the same Nepali bowler. 

Thailand’s batting owe continued with Kongkidakon Rueangrotchanchai becoming fourth batsman to be dismissed for a duck as he was run out after just three ball. 

Kokiad Chatwong was the top scorer for Thai team with 11 runs. He was also the only batsman to touch double-digit figure for the host. 

Surya Tamang claimed two wickets for Nepal while Nikhil Kumar Singh and Bishal Bikram KC added one wicket each for the wining side. 

Meanwhile, in the same group, Hong Kong defeated Myanmar by 212 runs. 
In the group B matches, Singapore defeated Malaysia by 29 runs whereas China registered 69 runs win over Bhutan. 

Nepal will now face Hong Kong in its second group match on Tuesday. 

 
• nepal
 
• thailand
 
• u-16 cricket