Gyanendra Malla ton powers Nepal to victory over Singapore

Gyanendra Malla ton powers Nepal to victory over Singapore

Bermuda records first victory of tournament against Malaysia

As the action intensified in Kuala Lumpur, day three of Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 saw Nepal record a 190-run victory over Singapore, and Uganda and Bermuda win their rain-affected matches by 24 runs and 37 runs respectively.

On a big-hitting day, Nepal scored 263 for nine and then dismissed Singapore for 73, Uganda posted 215 to defeat USA by 24 runs chasing a revised target of 153 (Duckworth-Lewis Method), and Bermuda recorded its first win of the tournament with a 37-run win over Malaysia, which was chasing a revised total of 217.

In the showcase match of the day, a knock of 114 by 24-year-old Gyanendra Malla sealed a resounding 190-run victory for Nepal over Singapore in front of a large and vocal crowd at Bayeumas. Coming in on the third ball of the day, man of the match Malla struck 13 fours and one six, sharing a 73-run second-wicket partnership with Naresh Budhaayer (29) and a fourth-wicket stand of 92 with Sharad Vesawkar (25). After posting the first century of the tournament, Malla was dismissed in the 44 ^th over, after which Nepal lost five wickets in four overs to reach a total of 263 for nine, the highest team total of the tournament to date.

Amjad Mehboob was Singapore's leading wicket-taker, claiming four wickets for 47 in nine overs, while Darmichand Mulewa claimed three for 31 and Anish Paraam took two for 66.

In reply, Singapore lost opener Arjun Mutreja, the highest run-scorer in the tournament before today's matches, for five runs in the second over. Coming in at number three, Chetan Suryawanshi top-scored with 15, as Nepal's Sompal Kami and Amrit Bhattarai regularly claimed wickets to leave the side reeling at six for 41 in 10.4 overs. Left-armer Basant Regmi finished off the tail end, returning extraordinary figures of four wickets for six runs from 5.4 overs, with Sompal Kami claiming four for 41 and Amrit Bhattarai bagging two for 19.

Nepal skipper Paras Khadka was delighted with his side's efforts: 'I think it was an amazing performance overall from the boys. Hopefully it is the first of many to come in the remaining matches in the tournament. We've lost one game and had two victories, so it's not over for us. We need to go out there and perform strongly.'

The captain said Malla's man of the match performance was well deserved. 'Gyanendra played very, very well. He's been an amazing player for Nepal, but he'd not made three figures before. I think there's a lot more to come from him. The bowlers followed up, I couldn't have asked for anything better.'

At Selangor Turf Club, Uganda sealed its third consecutive victory of the tournament with a 24-run win over USA (D-L Method). The side's decision to bat first proved a good one, with opener Roger Mukasa anchoring the innings with a knock of 71. Hamu Bagendra (21), Phillemon Selowa (27) and Brian Masaba (36) helped Uganda post 215 for the loss of eight wickets.

USA, led by Srinivasa Santhanam (37), started its chase well, however Uganda skipper Frank Nsubunga claimed the top four on the batting list to restrict the side to 69 for four in 17.4 overs. When rain struck in the 34 ^th over, USA had lost five wickets for 116 runs, and, chasing a revised target of 153, lost a sixth wicket two balls after the break. The sides were able to play two overs, with Adil Batti striking a six off the final delivery to take the USA total to 128 for six before the match was called off, with Uganda recording a 24 run victory.

Uganda skipper Frank Nsubuga was the main wicket-taker for Uganda, claiming four for 14 runs, while Mukasa was adjudged man of the match.

The delighted captain said: 'The camp is so happy with this win. The boys are consistently putting in good performances. The wicket was turning a lot, so we just needed good length, which we achieved.'

However, Nsubuga said his side would not rest on its laurels. 'Today's match is finished, and we've got two matches to go. We are waiting for Malaysia tomorrow, and we are going to give 110 per cent.'

In the final match of the day, Bermuda recorded its maiden victory of the tournament with a 37-run victory over host Malaysia at Kinrara Oval (D-L method). Christian Burgess again led from the front in a man of the match performance, with his knock of 82 coming from 88 balls. A half-century from veteran Lionel Cann (51) and a blistering 14-ball 43 by Allan Douglas II saw the side post 257 for eight from its 50 overs, with Malaysia's Suharril Fetri and Nasir Shafiq taking two wickets apiece.

Skipper Ahmed Faiz led the Malaysia response with his second half-century of the tournament (87), however, the side was not able to reach the revised target of 217 after rain interrupted the game in the 43rd over, and Bermuda sealed a 37-run victory.

Bermuda captain Janeiro Tucker was thrilled with the side's first win: 'We've been working on assessing the wickets to get ourselves into the position we got into today, and today we executed our plans. Now we're looking for a win tomorrow to put pressure on the other teams.'

Scores in brief:At Kinrara Bermuda 257 for eight, 50 overs (Christian Burgess 82, Lionel Cann 51, Allan Douglas II 43; Suharril Fetri 2-41, Nasir Shafiq 2-45) Malaysia 179 for seven, 43 overs (Anwar Arudin 45, Ahmed Faiz 87; Dion Stovell 3-29)Bermuda won by 37 runs (D-L method)Player of the Match: Christian Burgess (Bermuda)

At Bayeumas Nepal 263 for nine, 50 overs (Gyanendra Malla 114; Amjad Mehboob 4-47, Darmichand Mulewa 3-31, Anish Paraam 2-66) Singapore 73 all out, 21.4 overs (Basant Regmi 4-6, Sompal Kami 4-41, Amrit Bhattarai 2-19)Nepal won by 190 runsPlayer of the Match: Gyanendra Malla (Nepal)

At Selangor Turf Club Uganda 215 for eight, 50 overs (Roger Mukasa 71; Brian Masaba 36; Timil Patel 3-42, Danial Ahmed 2-26, Muhammad Ghous 2-44) USA 128 for six, 35.4 overs (Srinivasa Santhanam 37, Frank Nsubuga 4-23)Uganda won by 24 runs (D-L Method)Player of the Match: Roger Mukasa (Uganda)

At Kinrara: Nepal v USAAt Bayeumas: Malaysia v UgandaAt Selangor Turf Club: Bermuda v Singapore

All matches are scheduled to start at 1015 local time