Malaysia made a winning start to their Nepal Tri-Nation Twenty20 International Series as half centuries from opener Virandeep Singh and captain Ahmad Faiz gave them an eight-run victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) inflicting them a second defeat at the TU Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday.

Batting first, Malaysia posted 180-3 as opener Singh and Faiz stitched up a record 95-run partnership for the second wicket which also turned out to be the highest T20I partnership for the team.

In bowling, Sharvin Muniandy grabbed four wickets while Muhammad Wafiq and Pavandeep Singh claimed three wickets each as PNG were bowled out for 172 runs with three balls to spare.

Malaysia will vie against hosts Nepal in their second match on Wednesday at the same venue. Malaysia and Nepal both have four points each after playing their first match while PNG, who lost the opening match of the series to Nepal, are pointless after two matches.

Though Malaysia lost opener Zubaidi Zulkifle for four runs, his opening pair Singh played an unbeaten knock of 52-ball 59 to hit his fourth T20I half century. The 23-year-old reached his half century milestone facing 41 deliveries. He cracked two fences and maximums each.

Captain Faiz played a quickfire 37-ball 56. He hit five boundaries and three sixes to score his second T20I half century before he was caught by Tony Ura off Norman Vanua. Number four batter Syed Aziz also made a remarkable contribution of 26-ball 47. He smashed five boundaries and two sixes before being caught by wicketkeeper Simon Atai off Vanua.

PNG bowler Vanua picked two wickets while Nosaina Pokana claimed one. Vanua conceded 31 runs in his four-over bowling.

PNG made a shaky start to their run chase losing openers Lega Siaka for six runs, captain Assad Vala for 11 runs and No 3 batter Charles Amini for five runs with 3-34 on board.

But Ura and Vanua led the fightback putting up a 74-run partnership for the fifth wicket before the former was dismissed. Ura, the highest scorer of the innings, played a quickfire 35-ball 56 comprising seven fences and two sixes. Vanua hit a 45-run blitz off 25 deliveries. He struck two fences and four maximums.

Wicketkeeper batter Atai was the only other PNG player to score in double digits contributing 17 runs off six deliveries. Chad Soper remained not out on eight runs.

Malaysian Muniandy was the pick of the bowling claiming four wickets. The-player-of-the-match gave away 32 runs in his 3.3 overs spell.