October 1: The men’s cricket team of Nepal entered the quarterfinals on Sunday after defeating the Maldives by a wide margin of 138 runs in the 19th Asian Games. Nepal's fast-bowler Abinash Bohara, who took a record six wickets against the Maldives, helped the country get to the quarterfinals.    

Nepal, the winner of Group 'A', will now face one of the heavyweight teams among India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.    

Winning the toss and batting first in Hangzhou, China, Nepal scored 212 runs at the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Chasing the target of 213 runs, the Maldives was restricted to just 74 runs in 19.4 overs.    

In the match, Bohara bagged a record six wickets, becoming the first Nepali bowler to take six wickets in T20 international cricket. He gave away 11 runs in 3.4 overs. Earlier, Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC held the record of taking five wickets each for Nepal in T20 international cricket.    

Sompal Kami, Lamichhane, Gulshan Jha and Kushal Bhurtel took one wicket each. For the Maldives, Muawiyath Ghanee hit the highest 36 runs off 34 balls with two sixes and two boundaries. Similarly, Rasheed Rassam made 12 and Fareed Shius 10.    

For Nepal, Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored the highest 52 runs off 27 balls with three sixes and three fours. Likewise, Kushal Malla remained unbeaten on 47 off 20 with three sixes and three boundaries. Kushal Bhurtel made 35 off 18 with one six and five boundaries, Jha 35 off 21 with three sixes and one four, and Binod Bhandari 13 off 15 with one four.    

On the bowling side, the Maldives' Ismail Nazuwan took three wickets.

Earlier in its first match, Nepal defeated Mongolia by a wide margin of 273 runs while breaking several records during the match. Nepal booked a place in the quarterfinals by remaining unbeaten in Group 'A'. With the defeat, Mongolia and the Maldives placed into Group 'A' have been eliminated from the tournament.    

Test status nations, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have directly qualified for the quarterfinals. Hong Kong has entered the quarterfinals from Group 'B', while the team to reach the quarterfinals from Group 'C' has not been decided yet. -- RSS