Nepal kicked off their ACC Premier Cup with a nail-biting victory, narrowly overcoming Malaysia by five wickets in a heart-stopping encounter at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 144, Nepal’s batting lineup showcased a true team spirit. Asif Sheikh led the charge with a steady 32, while captain Rohit Paudel contributed a valuable 20. The collective efforts of Kushal Bhurtel (24), Dipendra Singh Airee (20), and a decisive unbeaten 19 from Gulshan Jha saw Nepal cross the finish line with four balls to spare despite losing five wickets. Sandeep Zora’s unbroken 12 further stabilized the chase.

The Nepali openers provided a solid foundation with a 49-run partnership. Malaysia’s bowling attack was spearheaded by captain Virandeep Singh, who bagged three wickets. Mohammad Wafiq and Pawandeep Singh chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Malaysia, opting to bat first, posted 143 runs in their 20 overs. Virandeep Singh, showcasing his all-around skills, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 68 off just 57 deliveries, peppering the boundary with four sixes and a four. Sarvin Muniendy provided valuable support with a 41-run knock, while Mohammad Amir’s 16-run cameo added some late impetus.

The second-wicket partnership between Singh and Muniendy, worth 82 runs, proved crucial for Malaysia’s batting effort. Nepal’s bowling attack was led by Dipendra Singh Airee, who picked up two wickets. Avinash Bohra also got his name on the wicket-taker’s list.

Nepal will face Qatar in their subsequent group stage encounter on Saturday, aiming to build momentum for the campaign.