Sandeep Lamichhane made an impressive return as Nepal captain on Monday, taking five wickets to bowl Bahrain out for 87 in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup in Malaysia.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Bahrain were dismissed for 87 in 36.2 overs.

Returning as captain in place of Rohit Paudel, Sandeep bowled a 10-over spell, including four maidens, and conceded just 14 runs. He struck with his first delivery, bowling Ahmer Bin Nasir for two in the 13th over.

Opening bowler Karan KC also put Bahrain under pressure early, taking two wickets. He bowled Bahrain captain Asif Ali for four and dismissed Fiaz Ahmed for 15. Fiaz, Bahrain’s top scorer, hit two fours and a six from 15 balls.

Sandeep and fellow spinner Lalit Rajbanshi then dismantled Bahrain’s batting. Apart from Fiaz, only Muhammad Wasim and Ali Dawood reached double figures.

Lalit bowled Wasim for 13 after he faced 27 balls and hit one four. Dawood, who also hit a six off Dipendra Singh Airee, scored 10 and shared a 20-run partnership with Abdul Majid Abbasi for the 10th wicket before being dismissed by Lalit.

Lalit finished with three wickets for 20 runs from 6.2 overs, including one maiden. Karan took two for 14 from eight overs, bowling four maidens.