By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Jul 01, 2025 08:31 AM • 71 views
Defending champions Nepal delivered a cricketing masterclass in the final group stage match of the ACC U-16 East Zone Cup, annihilating Bhutan by a staggering 298 runs on Tuesday at the Selangor Turf Club ground in Malaysia. With the victory, Nepal maintained a perfect record—four wins in four matches—to finish at the top of Group 'A' with eight points. The Himalayan nation's dominance was as comprehensive as it was ruthless. Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a mammoth 358 for 5 in 50 overs, spearheaded by a sublime 168-run innings from opener Raunak Srivastava. In response, Bhutan crumbled to 60 all out in just 32.4 overs—no batter, apart from Shezang Dawa (14) and Ugyen Kelzang Chophel (10), managed to reach double figures. Nepal's bowling unit, as has been the case all tournament, ran riot once again. Skipper Bipin Prasad Sharma led from the front with figures of 4 wickets, while Suyog Bhattarai and Sachin Bhatt picked up two scalps apiece to dismantle Bhutan's fragile batting line-up.
Raunak's Record-Breaking Knock
At the heart of Nepal's batting brilliance was Raunak Srivastav. The elegant right-hander faced 132 balls, hammering 16 boundaries and clearing the ropes five times en route to his match-defining 168. He stitched two crucial partnerships: a 72-run stand with Sugam Budhathoki for the third wicket, and a 170-run blitz with Joy Thapa for the fifth, which effectively took the game beyond Bhutan's reach.
Joy Thapa played a calm and composed innings of 61* off 67 deliveries, anchoring the final overs with maturity. Contributions also flowed from Sriwansh Bajgain (54 off 52) and Budhathoki (35), giving Nepal's innings an unrelenting momentum from start to finish.
Bhutan’s bowlers were outclassed by the clinical Nepalese batting unit. Sangay Dorji bagged three wickets, while Jenzing Loday Jamtsho managed one, but none could stem the flow of runs.
Semifinal Line-Up Set
With this emphatic win, Nepal advances to the semifinals as Group' A' winners and will face host nation Malaysia—who qualified from Group' B'—in a high-stakes clash. Singapore, the runners-up from Nepal's group, will face Hong Kong in the other semifinal. Nepal's campaign so far has been near-flawless, characterised by dominant batting displays and a potent bowling attack. Both coaches and selectors will be buoyed by the team's balance, depth, and confidence as they head into the knockout stages. As the tournament heats up, Nepal is now a firm favourite to retain the title they clinched last time. Tuesday's statement win wasn't just about two points—it was a warning to every contender: the champions are here, and they mean business.
