Bhutan’s hopes to go to the 2020 ICC World Cup qualification now remain dashed after the Bhutanese cricket team slumped to a 117-run defeat at the hands of Nepal today at the ongoing ICC World T20 Asia B Qualifiers.
The Bhutanese batsmen were no match for Nepal’s bowling onslaught and were bowled out for a paltry 33 runs. This is Bhutan’s lowest score in a Twenty20 match.
On paper, Bhutan was the underdogs, facing an opponent that has already played a T20 world cup. It was Bhutan’s first meeting with Nepal since 2006.
Bhutan won the toss and asked Nepal to bat first.
Despite losing a wicket in the first over, Nepal, led by Pradeep Singh Airee at the top, scored a massive 150 runs in their allotted 20 overs. With 75 runs, Pradeep Singh scored half of Nepal’s runs. Nepal just lost four wickets in the process.
Chasing 150 runs looked improbable for Bhutan from the start. Nepal, on the other hand, had Sandeep Lamichhane, an 18-year-old leg-break bowler, who plays for Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Daredevils.
Sandeep Lamichhane turned out to be the menace as his three wickets for six runs helped bowl out Bhutan for just 33 runs. Only Tenzin Wangchuk managed to score more than 10 runs among the Bhutanese batsmen.
Of the two more matches that remain for Bhutan, one is with Singapore, which will take place tomorrow.
The ongoing ICC World T20 Asia B Qualifiers is happening in Malaysia.
