Karan KC gave an allround display and Sandeep Lamichhane once again returned with a five-wicket haul as Nepal thumped Thailand by 140 runs under Duckworth/Lewis Method for their third consecutive victory in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier Asia (Eastern Region) in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Put in to bat first at the Bayuemas Oval, Nepal were stunned when minnows unexpectedly bowled superbly to reduce Nepal to 128-7 in 17.2 overs. But big hitting KC struck a quickfire 40 from just 14 deliveries leading Nepal to an imposing 172-7 in 20 overs.

Nepal began by opening the bowling attack from spinners Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Lamichhane who struck from their first overs to put Thailand in the backfoot.

Lamichhane was particularly unplayable after tore apart the top and middle order of Thailand with his second

consecutive five-for in the tournament. Thailand were 18-9 in 8.5 overs before rain intervened and washed out the remainder of the day with Nepal sealing a D/L victory. 

Lamichhane had also returned with the figures of 5-20 against Malaysia on Saturday and Sunday’s 5-8 from three overs means he has so far picked up 14 wickets from first three matches. The teen leg spin prodigy had begun the tournament by picking up four wickets against Myanmar. KC returned the figures of 3-2 from 1.5 overs.

Wanchana Uisuk and Ziaul Hoque made seven runs each for Thailand whose five batsmen failed to open the account. Thailand’s 18-9 is so far the lowest score in the tournament.

Earlier, opener Binod Bhandari hit two fours and a six in his eight-ball 15 to add 28 runs for the first wicket with Anil Kumar Sah before Hoque struck with the former’s wicket. Sah made 25 from 17 balls before falling to Vichanat Singh after hitting five boundaries.

Sharad Vesawkar and Dipendra Singh Airee added 45 runs for third wicket before off spinner Payuputh Sungnard wreaked an unexpected havoc in the middle order. Beginning with the dismissal of Airee, who made a 26-ball 30 with three fours and a six, Sungnard removed Vesawkar, Aarif Sheikh (eight) and skipper Paras Khadka (five). Vichanath Singh then dismissed Gyanendra Malla as Nepal lost five wickets in a space of 29 runs.

But KC, well-known for his power hitting, tore apart the Thai attack hitting four sixes and two boundaries in a cameo that led Nepal to a big total. KC smashed Nicholas Janes for three consecutive sixes in the 20th over where Nepal collected 24 runs. Vesawkar was Nepal’s second best scorer making 34 off 28 with two fours.

Sungnard returned the figures of 4-21 from four overs and Singh took 2-29 from his four. With progress into the Asian Regio Qualifier looking imminent, Nepal will now take on Bhutan in their next match on Tuesday.

Nepal, who are tied on six points with Singapore, lead the table on net run rate. The top three teams after the round robin league will make it to the Asia Region Qualifier.

Summary

Nepal 172-7 in 20 overs (K KC 40 not out, S Vesawkar 34; P Sungnard 4-21, V Singh 2-29) beat Thailand 18-9 in 8.5 overs (W Uisuk 7, Z Hoque 7; S Lamichhane 5-8, K KC 3-2) by 140 runs under D/L Method

Man-of-the-match: Karan KC (NEP)