2023 Asian Games cricket match between Nepal and Maldives: sensational Abinash Bohara stuns Maldives; Nepal advances to quarterfinals
On Sunday, October 1, Nepal defeated the Maldives by a score of 138 runs to secure a spot in the knockout rounds of the men’s cricket category at the 2023 Asian Games. In their last Group A encounter, “The Rhinos,” one of the team’s numerous monikers, dismissed Maldives for 74 all out after scoring 212/7 on the expansive Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou, China.
Abinash Bohara was the game’s MVP after taking six wickets for 11 runs in a devastating 3.4 overs of bowling. The victory allowed Nepal, who had previously destroyed Mongolia in a T20I record-breaking 273-run triumph, to top the group and go to the quarterfinals, where a draw will be made later. There, they will have the chance to show their mettle against one of the continental powerhouses. The remaining three positions in the final eight are being contested by nine teams, in groups of three, with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka receiving byes in place of those five nations. However, Nepal has successfully overcome the first obstacle, and rather wonderfully.
But it just tells a portion of the tale. Many people think that Nepalese cricket is expanding at a never-before-seen pace. With government support and a sizable domestic fan base, the athletes often outperform their peers. at reality, they defeated Pakistan and India at the Asia Cup a few weeks ago, and the players were proud to go home. But as of the time of writing, the Nepalese team at the 19th Asian Games was still searching for its first medal. And cricket players could just make that wish come true.
Nepal are making all the right sounds in China, where cricket is still an unfamiliar sport. In the crucial match on Sunday, captain Rohit Paudel won the toss and immediately decided to bat first. They were always going to be tested by the Maldives, who also defeated Mongolia handily by nine wickets.
The Rhinos were also having trouble at one point when they were 67/4 into the 10th over. But Paudel and Kushal Malla, who scored an unbroken 137 off only 50 balls against Mongolia, contributed some power-hitting to save the innings. The captain made 52 off 27 while Malla had 47 off 20 and was still in the game.
After Sompal Kami and Gulsan Jha gave the Maldives’ middle over a great start in defense, right-arm pacer Abinash Bohara rocked the middle over a short while after. Despite Muawiyath Ghanee’s resolute effort (36 off 34), Nepal closed off the Maldives innings with two balls left for another huge victory.
Sandeep Lamichhane, the world-traveling Syangja legspinner who once won over Australian great Ricky Ponting with his talents, was the team’s strongest weapon, but captain Rohit Paudel didn’t even need the best from him. Even though he was just 23, Nepal’s top cricket export didn’t mind taking second place (1/16). Lamichhane was delighted to portray a famous person. In a few days, Nepal will experience its own kind of stardom.
Japan and Hong Kong compete in a hypothetical knockout match in Group B. In their respective first matches versus Cambodia, both sides prevailed. Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are still in contention for the quarterfinals in Group C.
