The Nepalese team has secured a spot in the final of the T20I Triangular series between Nepal, Hong Kong and UAE. The hosts Nepal bagged a massive 79-run win against Hong Kong on Saturday to confirm a seat in the final.
Nepal were victorious by seven-wicket against UAE in the first match and grabbed a six-wicket win against Hong Kong in the following match.
Opting to bat first at Mulpani Cricket Ground, Nepal piled up 213/6 in 20 overs after an electrifying innings from Kushal Malla, well supported by Dipendra Singh Airee. They were 55/4 in the ninth over but Malla and Airee shared a world-record 145 runs for the fifth wicket. This is the biggest-ever fifth-wicket partnership in T20I cricket.
Airee scored 57 runs from 34 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, Malla hammered 92 runs from just 41 balls, smacking nine sixes and three fours.
In response, Hong Kong crumbled to 134/8 in 20 overs. Anshuman Rath top-scored with 45 runs while Aizaz Khan and Babar Hayat added 25 and 20 runs respectively.
Karan KC, Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi picked up two wickets each for Nepal. Debutant Pratish GC and DS Airee also grabbed one wicket each.
Hong Kong and the UAE are yet to face each other in two upcoming matches. Nepal, on the other hand, has a single match remaining against the UAE, scheduled for October 23. The team that accumulates more points between Hong Kong and the UAE will go on to compete against Nepal in the final match at TU Cricket Ground on October 27.
