The ACC U16 Cup has expanded to ten teams this year- the largest in its history, and it’s Nepal again who will be widely expected to win the title. The Himalayan nation beat Malaysia in the final of the previous tournament. This year, Nepal are in Group A for the tournament alongside Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Bhutan.
Group B is more competitive on paper and features hosts Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Myanmar and the Maldives. The top team in each group will advance to the final- there are no second chances by the way of semi-finals or any other knockout clash. While Melbet Myanmar clearly has Nepal as favourites to defend their crown, the identity of the second finalist looks a little less straightforward, with Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand battling it out from Group B.
Hosts Malaysia were dealt a blow in the tournament opener against Hong Kong- the latter scored a massive 304/7 in their 50 overs, built on the back of a stunning 123 from Reyansh Sharma. The HK No.3 hit 12 fours and 10 sixes in his 73-ball-innings, finishing with a strike rate of 173.24 on a day where the rest of the batsmen struggled to score over a run a ball. In reply, Malaysia were too slow at the start of the innings (their No.3 and 4 scored at a SR < 50) and despite skipper Deeaz Patro’s best efforts, fell short by 88 runs.
Nepal are lead by Bipin Sharma at this tournament, and he has pretty good big-game experience at his tender age, having also featured in the domestic T20 league and bowling against the likes of Jimmy Neesham.
One of the games of the tournament so far was between Thailand and Myanmar. The latter were put into bat by Thailand and were bowled out for 68 in their 23 overs. Sai Hla Htwe (19) and wicket keeper Khun Soe Paing (10) were the only players to cross double digits, with Witthawat Srikaew running through the Myanmar batting with figures of 6/24.
Myanmar were 32/7 at one stage, but were able to double their score primarily due to a 27-run eighth wicket partnership between Hla Htwe and Phoe Chit. The 68 wasn’t much, but it gave their bowling a fighting chance, and that was all they needed as they gave Thailand a mighty scare.
Thailand huffed and puffed through the chase, but were kept on track by skipper Jirapol Jirapatananukul’s 33. He was the only player to cross double digits and he kept one end steady even as they lost wickets at the other. Myanmar would’ve genuinely fancied their chances when they got him with the score at 56/7, but the eighth wicket pair took Thailand home.
Myanmar were left ruing their indiscipline with the ball- they conceded 17 extras (13 wides and 2 no-balls) and that helped Thailand edge this clash by 3 wickets. Saw Kyaw Min Lwn was the pick of their bowlers- he finished with figures of 4/16.
While Myanmar went on to suffer huge defeats to both HK and Malaysia, they will be hoping to finish on a high against the Maldives- that would’ve been targetted as a winnable game at the beginning of the tournament.