Nepal secured a narrow 106-103 victory over Malaysia in the ACC Cup for men on Wednesday evening. The result keeps Nepal top of the standings with four points from two games, while Malaysia drop to second place on two points after their first defeat.
The hosts looked dangerous early on, but Nepal held their nerve in the closing stages to claim a three-point win. It was a tight contest from start to finish, with neither side able to pull clear until the final overs.
Malaysia come into this match having played five recent fixtures, recording one win and four losses across various competitions. Their last outing saw them lose 270-177 to Saudi Arabia, a result that suggests they may have struggled for consistency.
Nepal, by contrast, have won both their matches this tournament. Their most recent game was a hard-fought 88-87 victory over Bahrain, showing they know how to win tight encounters. They have also played several other matches against different opposition in recent weeks.
The win moves Nepal further clear at the top of the table, while Malaysia now face the pressure of bouncing back from their first loss. Both teams have two games under their belts, so there is still plenty of cricket to be played in this competition.