Tailender Ashok Dhami came up with an all-round performance for Nepal as they thumped hosts Malaysia by 84 runs to secure top finish in Group ‘A’ of the ACC Men’s Under-16 East Zone Cup at the Bayuemas Oval, Bangi, on Friday.

Nepal and Malaysia came into the game already assured of the semi-final berth after both sides had defeated Thailand in their first match in the three-team group. The second victory in the group stage meant Nepal finished on top of the standings with a maximum four points from two games, two points ahead of the runners up Malaysia.

Nepal will now meet Group ‘B’ runners up Singapore in the semi-final on Tuesday while Malaysia will play against Hong Kong, the Group ‘B’ toppers, the same day.

Electing to bat first against Malaysia, Nepal were bowled out 183 runs in 33.4 overs in the 35-over per side game and then bundled out the home team for 99 runs in 30.5 overs.

Dhami, who came in to bat at number nine, played an instrumental role with both the bat and the ball. He slammed a quick-fire half century with the bat and took four wickets with the ball. The player-of-the-match Dhami slammed 52 runs off 36 balls, the highest of the match, with three hits to the boundary and five sixes. He was bowled by Muhammad Akram, falling as the last wicket.

Opener Suryanshu Koirala and middle-order batter Naren contributed 29 runs each, the joint second highest score of the innings. Koirala struck four hits to the boundary in his 26-ball knock before Haziq Haiqal took his wicket.

Naren hit a boundary in his patient 43-ball knock. He also shared a 45-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Dhami before being trapped lbw by Mohamad Fathul Fatri. Top-order batter Didpu Kumar (41-ball 15) and tailender Kritik Kamat (17-ball 16) were the other Nepali players to contribute double digit scores.

Malaysian bowler Haziq Haiqal, Muhammad Akram, Areean Aqeel and Muhammad Muqri grabbed two wickets each.

In the run chase, Malaysia struggled with the bat and kept losing wickets in quick succession. Middle-order batter Mohammad Hairi contributed 25 runs off 54 balls, the highest of the innings before Dhami clean bowled him. Opener-cum-captain Muhammad Aalif (15 runs), Muhammad Akram (12 runs) and Arrean Aqeel (not out 10 runs) were the other home team players to contribute double digit scores.

Dhami came up with a sensational spell with the ball, conceding just 14 runs in his seven-over spell. Abhisekha Tiwari grabbed three wickets in his 4.5 overs spell, giving away 26 runs. Santosh Yadav took two wickets while Kritik Kamat picked up one.