Maldives humble Bhutan in opener

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 6 : The triangular Emerging Nations Tournament started Thursday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground with Maldives recording an emphatic 9-wicket win over new entrants Bhutan.

Bhutan, who were sent into bat, folded up after making just 62 runs in 28.5 overs and Maldives reached the target in 11.2 overs losing just one wicket of Abdulla Shafeell to win the match convincingly.

Bhutan, who received ICC affiliate membership last year, had a tough time against relatively experienced Maldives, which is considered second favorites of the tournament after host Nepal. None of Bhutan batsmen stayed longer at the crease and all of them failed to reach double figure mark.

"Bhutan is a newcomer in international cricket so it was not the real test for our players," said Maldives national coach Faiz Samad to The Kathmandu Post. Samad also stressed that his batsmen did not get chance to tune their batting as they won the match by nine wickets.

"What worry me is our bowling since we conceded 26 extras in 28 overs," added Samad who is looking forward to Friday’s match against host Nepal.

Maldives won the toss and put Bhutan to bat first. Maldives pace-attack unsettled the Bhutanese in the beginning but Bhutan somehow managed to take the score to 29-2 in 10 overs. Maldives medium pacers Ismail Nadeem and Ismail Nihad accounted for Bhutan opening batsmen Tshering Dorji and Tshering Tashi.

Bhutan lost their three wickets in the space of nine deliveries without scoring a run. Rest of their batting also failed to click as they were bundled out for mere 62 runs in 28.5 overs. Bikash Sharma was the only Bhutanese batsman to score boundary in their match.

Ahmed Neesham Nazir was the pick of Maldives bowler as he claimed three wickets in his four-over spell conceding five runs. Nazir was adjudged man of the match for picking up three vital wickets. Mohamed Mahafooz gave away 17 runs in 5.5 overs notching two wickets. Apart from Nadeem and Nihad, Abdullah Sahid and Ibrahim Shaaz Habeeb each claimed a wicket.

Chasing a small target, Maldives lost just a wicket of Abdulla Shafeell but it was too late as the first wicket fell when Maldives batsmen had already added 41 runs in six overs. Dambar Singh Gurung was the first Bhutanese to claim wicket in an international match after Shafeell lofted a simple catch to Tandin Wangchuk. Ahmed Hussain topscored with unbeaten 27 runs including three fours. Mossa Kalim also remained unbeaten at 10 off just 13 balls.

Nepal will play its first match against Thursday’s winner Maldives on Friday at the same ground.

MMC, Three Star enter final

Post Report

NEPALGUNJ, March 6 : Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) will meet Sankata Sports Club (SSC) in the Khukuri Cup second round final in Nepalgunj centre as MMC defeated United Club of Jhapa 3-0 in the second semifinal on Thursday.

United Club played well to restrict football powerhouse to just three goals. MMC had thrashed Kailali Youth Club 16-2 in the quarterfinals on Monday.

All the goals scored in the match were netted in the first half. Basanta Thapa broke the ice in the 29th minute followed by a goal from Deepak Lama in the 36th minute. MMC captain Kumar Thapa struck five minutes later to go 3-0 up before the break. Jhapa players instead of playing attacking game hung on to defend allowing MMC to score further goals in the second half.

The final will be played on Saturday.

In Biratnagar

Three Star Club, Kathmandu will lock horns against Mahendra Police Club (MPC) in the final at Biratnagar centre after they stunned star-studded Friends’ Club 3-0 in the second semifinal.

Striker Surendra Tamang was the architect of Three Star’s emphatic win over Friends’ Club, who were without their captain and veteran goalie Upendra Man Singh. Tamang found the net in the 34th minute and 37th minute to upset the second favorite of the Biratnagar centre.

Tamang also set the third goal to Umesh Lama from the centre as Lama did not committed any mistake to put his team 3-0 ahead in the 47th minute. Even after netting three goals within first 47 minutes, Three Star Club gave a tough time to Friends’ Club defense in the later part of the match. Friends’ Club ace striker Nirajan Rayamajhi played far below his potentials on Thursday. The final is slated for Saturday.

In Pokhara

ANFA Academy takes on Tribhuvan Club as they downed 10-man Dharan Football Club, Sunsari 3-1 at Pokhara on Thursday’s semifinal.

Prabin Manandhar, who scored two goals in the quarterfinal on Monday, netted the first in the 29th minute after Bijay Gurung fed him a well executed pass at the centre from right. Saugat Subba, who later had to leave the field after receiving marching order from referee Birendra Pandey, scored the second goal in the injury time of the first half. Subba headed home the second goal after Manandhar kicked a corner from the left.

Manandhar found his second and team’s third in the 61st minute to take the match beyond the reach of Dharan. The losing team pulled one goal back in the later part of the match when Susan Shakya of ANFA Academy brought down a Dharan player inside the 18-yard area. Subba will miss the final against Tribhuvan Club on Saturday.