The second day of the ACC U-16 Eastern Region Tournament being played in Bangkok and Chiang Mai was dominated by the bowlers as young batsmen from all the teams batting first struggled to build an innings. Nepal became the first team to make certain of reaching the semi-finals as they beat Hong Kong by four wickets at TCG to record their second win in Group A.

Hong Kong had been impressive with the bat on the first day as they made 253 for 4 against Myanmar but they found batting much more difficult against a superior Nepal bowling attack. Opening bowler Prattis GC claimed of 3 for 15 in his 7 overs but Ajay Kumar Lonya returned remarkable figures of 7 overs 5 maidens 2 wickets for 2 runs as Hong Kong were restricted to 82 for 9 in their 35 overs with Aryan Shetty top scoring with 24.

Nepal’s chase was not a comfortable one as they were reduced to 34 for 4 as Nasrulla Rana took 3 for 11 in his 7 overs but Trit Raj Das took his team to the brink of success with 27 and Nepal reached 84 for 6 in 24.1 overs to seal victory.

Nepal now have four points and they will be joined in the semi-finals from Group A by the winners of Thursday’s match between Thailand and Hong Kong. Thailand who lost to Nepal in their first match kept their hopes of progress alive by beating Myanmar by six wickets at AIT.

Myanmar were dismissed for 73 in 30.3 overs as Yodsak Saranonnakkun finished off the innings with a spell of 4 for 7 as the last five wickets fell for six runs. Thai opener Phiriyapong Suanchuai made 31 from 44 balls and Kongkidakon Rueangrotchanchai who had earlier taken two wickets saw his side home with an unbeaten 15. Thailand were well ahead of the required rate as they reached 74 for 4 in 13.3 overs.

ACC U16 EASTERN REGION 2017
Day 2: Tue Dec 12

China v Malaysia at Prem
MALAYSIA WON BY FOUR WICKETS
China won the toss and chose to bat
China: 84 all out off 28.5 overs (H.Wang 38; M.Aiman 4-10)
Malaysia: 88 for 6 off 18.4 overs (Z.Wang 3-29)

Bhutan v Singapore at RCGC
SINGAPORE WON BY SEVEN WICKETS
Singapore won the toss and elected to field
Bhutan: 66 for 9 off 35 overs (A.Berry 4-15)
Singapore: 67 for 3 off 10.1 overs

Hong Kong v Nepal at TCG
NEPAL WON BY FOUR WICKETS
Hong Kong won the toss and chose to bat
Hong Kong: 82 for 9 off 35 overs (G.Pratis 3-15)
Nepal: 84 for 6 off 24.1 overs (N.Rana 3-11)

Thailand v Myanmar at AIT
THAILAND WON BY SIX WICKETS
Myanmar won the toss and chose to bat
Myanmar: 73 all out off 30.3 overs (Y.Saranonnakkun 3-7)
Thailand: 74 for 4 off 13.3 overs (P.Suanchuai 31)
Report by Richard Lockwood (Source: ACC)