Cricket

Karan KC leads Nepal to dominant victory over Malaysia in ACC Premier Cup

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Sep 3, 2026, 17:00 IST

Nepal secured a comfortable six-wicket win against Malaysia in the ACC Men's Premier Cup, anchored by a brilliant four-wicket haul from Karan KC and a steady 45 from Arjun Kumal.

Karan KC leads Nepal to dominant victory over Malaysia in ACC Premier Cup

Karan KC dismantles Malaysia batting lineup

Nepal asserted their dominance in Match 10 of the ACC Men's Premier Cup, cruising to a six-wicket victory over Malaysia at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi. After Malaysia won the toss and elected to bat, the Nepal bowling attack wasted no time in seizing control of the contest. Karan KC proved to be the standout performer, spearheading a disciplined effort that saw Malaysia bundled out for just 103 runs in 32.3 overs.

The Malaysian innings struggled to find momentum against a persistent Nepal bowling unit. Syed Aziz provided the most resistance, top-scoring with 30 runs off 49 balls, while Aqeel Wahid contributed 24 from 39 deliveries. However, they lacked the necessary support to build a competitive total. Karan KC was the chief architect of the collapse, finishing with impressive figures of 4/23 from his 7.3 overs. His ability to strike at crucial intervals ensured that Malaysia never settled, with Lalit Rajbanshi also providing vital support to keep the pressure on throughout the first half of the match.

Nepal navigate early wobble to seal chase

Chasing a modest target of 104, Nepal faced an immediate setback when Aasif Sheikh fell for just one run in the second ball of the opening over. The early loss of a wicket threatened to inject some tension into the chase, but Nepal remained composed. Arjun Kumal stepped up to anchor the innings, playing a measured knock of 45 runs off 68 balls to guide his side toward the target.

Kumal found a reliable partner in Ishan Pandey, and together they navigated the early pressure to steady the ship. Despite losing two wickets early on, Nepal’s batting depth ensured they reached 106/4, comfortably securing the win with plenty of time to spare. The victory highlights Nepal's clinical approach in the tournament, with their bowlers setting the platform and their batters showing the temperament to finish the job efficiently. For Malaysia, the result marks a difficult outing, as they were unable to defend their total despite the early breakthrough.