Naren Bhatta cracked a century as Nepal posted a 253 runs target for Malaysia in the final of the ACC Men’s U-16 East Zone Cup cricket tournament played at Bayuemas Oval, Malaysia on Tuesday.

Bhatta scored unbeaten 112 runs off 89 deliveries with 10 hits to the fence and two sixes to help Nepal put 252 runs on the board in the stipulated 35 overs losing eight wickets.

Electing to bat first against the hosts after winning the toss, Nepal lost opener Suryanshu Koirala in 7.2 overs. Koirala contributed 18 runs off 23 balls, studded with two hits to the boundary before he was caught by Hamzah Panggi off a delivery by Areean Aqeel.

Another opener Niraj Kumar Yadav held the innings for Nepal with his 47 knock-play off 49 deliveries. He struck six hits to the boundary. Yadav shared a partnership of 55 runs with Bhatta before he fell to an lbw trap to Muhammad Fathul Muin in 16.2 overs.

Pratik Bhattarai and Dipu Kumar were run out for one and five runs respectively.

Santosh Yadav scored 26 runs off 29 deliveries as he shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 103 runs with Bhatta. Yadav gave away his wicket to Muhammad Akram in 31.2 overs. Abhisekh Tiwari was bowled out by Akram two deliveries later.

Ashok Dhami contributed 11 runs.

Muhammad Akram of Malaysia claimed three Nepali scalps as Areean Aqeel, Haziq Haiqal and Muhammad Fathul Muin grabbed a wicket apiece.

The Nepali youth team had registered a thumping 97-run victory over Singapore to set up a final clash against the hosts Malaysia.