Kathmandu – Nepal continued its impressive run in the ongoing ACC U-16 East Zone Cricket Tournament with a commanding 9-wicket win over Japan on Tuesday. The Nepali side delivered a clinical performance with both bat and ball to register their second consecutive victory in the tournament, held in Malaysia.
Khanal’s Five-Wicket Haul Dismantles Japan’s Batting Lineup
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Japan struggled to gain momentum against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack and were bundled out for just 80 runs in 34.3 overs. Japanese captain Charlie Harahinge top-scored with 36 runs, while Gabby Harahinge contributed 13. No other batter managed to reach double figures as Nepal’s bowlers dominated proceedings.
Left-arm spinner Shubham Khanal spearheaded Nepal’s attack with an exceptional spell, taking 5 wickets for just 15 runs in his 10 overs. Abhay Yadav picked up 2 wickets, while Sushil Rawal and captain Bipin Prasad Sharma chipped in with one wicket each.
Shivansh and Prasiddha Seal the Victory, Nepal Tops Group A
In response, Nepal chased down the modest target of 81 runs in just 14.2 overs, losing only one wicket. Although opener Joe Thapa was dismissed early for 1, the pair of Shivansh Bajgain and Prasiddha Jaishi guided Nepal to victory with an unbeaten 76-run partnership for the second wicket.
Shivansh remained not out on 38 runs off 42 deliveries, which included 7 boundaries, while Prasiddha contributed 33 runs off 33 balls with 3 fours. Japan’s only breakthrough came from Kaisei Doge, who claimed the lone wicket.
With this back-to-back win, Nepal has now collected 4 points from 2 matches and sits at the top of Group A. Japan, with one win from two matches, follows in second place with 2 points. Nepal had previously defeated Singapore by 5 wickets in their tournament opener.
The team will next face Indonesia on June 29 in their third group-stage match. Group A includes Nepal, Japan, Singapore, Bhutan, and Indonesia, while the overall tournament features 10 participating teams.
Nepal’s U-16 squad has shown immense promise early in the competition. With a balanced display of sharp bowling and confident batting, the team has ignited fresh hope among cricket fans back home. This strong performance by the young talents could well be a sign of a bright future for Nepalese cricket on the international stage.
