More than a decade after national cricket team played the first international match, the team bagged its first international title after winning Asian Cricket Council (ACC) T20 Men’s Eastern region 2018 in Thailand yesterday.

National cricket team defeated Thailand by three runs in the final to win the championship. A total of four countries China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand took part in the championship.

Captain Jigme Singye was named the player of the tournament for his all-round performances.  He also won the man of the match award in the final.

Suprit Pradhan who recorded the highest runs in the opening match was named bowler of the tournament. He picked three wickets in the final.

The tournament saw Suprit Pradhan set a new national record of highest wicket-taker. The previous record was held by Dorji Loday with six wickets.

In the final, the national cricket team approached the game with a changed decision as they elected to bat first after winning the toss. In the previous meet, Bhutan elected to field.

Thailand had to chase the run target of 102 runs to win the championship. However, the host ran in short of three runs at the end of second innings. Thailand won 98 runs at the end of 20 overs.

Bhutan was to play Myanmar in the last match of the league round. However, the match was abandoned. The match between China and Thailand was also abandoned. It was reported that the pitch was not in playable conditions following a heavy rainfall that soaked the surface.

The team opened the ACC tournament as the first match winners of the year after defeating China on the day one.

Opening the tournament on February 21 as title favorites, Bhutan and Thailand entered the tournament with a win each. Bhutan defeated China by 9 wickets and Thailand humbled Myanmar with 130 runs.

The opening of the tournament showed the individual potential of the national cricket players as the Vice Captain Thinley Jamtsho was named the man of the match. Tandin Singye and Suprit Pradhan’s performance helped Bhutan enter the tournament with a win.

After securing a win of 130 runs over Myanmar, Thailand face Bhutan on the second day. The team qualified first for the final after winning two consecutive matches. Thailand secured a spot in the final with a victory over Bhutan by 44 runs.

The tournament was the first ACC tournament of the year.

Nima