KABUL (PAN): Afghanistan scored an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Bhutan in a match of the Asian Cricket Council's Under-16 Challenge Cup in Malaysia on Monday.

As a result of the massive win, the young national team finished third in the tournament, featuring Afghanistan, Iran, the Maldives, Bhutan, China, Oman and Myanmar.

Bhutan was skittled out for a meager 60 in the 25^th over after it won the toss and elected to bat first. Shafiullah Muhammad and J. Katawaai took three wickets apiece for Afghanistan.

In reply, Afghanistan raced to the target in the ninth over without losing any wicket, the ACC said in a press release. Shafiullah Muhammad, who hit an unbeaten 44, was declared Man of the Match.

In the hotly-contested final, Oman defeated Iran by 30 runs to lift the trophy at stake. Oman managed to reach 139 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 40 overs before they restricted the Iranians to 101 in a final of fluctuating fortunes.

mud/pr