Kathmandu/Cricnepal – Nepal defeated Hong Kong by 28 runs in its opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers being held in UAE today.
Winning the toss, Nepal skipper Paras Khadka invited Hong Kong on field.
With a great knock from skipper, Nepal put up the totals of 130 runs for 6 wickets off alloted 20 overs.
To a bad start, Nepal lost the openers quickly as Pradeep Airee went without a score in the third ball off the very first over. Sharad Vesawkar joined Airee with score of 2 runs leaving Nepal to 12 for 2 in second over.
26 runs partnership between Paresh Lohani and Paras Khadka steered Nepal to 38 for 3 as Lohani went stumped at 12 runs. It was Gyanendra Malla and Paras Khadka who put up good effort to bring 56 runs partnership for forth wicket. Malla then was caught at score of 26 runs. Malla struck two fours and a six in his 24 balls play.
Khadka put up his highest score of 68 runs, also the second highest score made by Nepali batsman. Khadka played 62 balls with hitting 7 fours. Mehboob Alam scored 13 runs off 15 balls. Basanta Regmi remained not out at 2 runs.
Munir Dar picked 3 wickets for Hong Kong while Daljeet Singh, Nizakat Khan and Aizaz Khan grabbed wicket apiece.
In reply, international debutant for Nepal, Chandra Sawad took 4 crucial wickets as Hong Kong bundled for 102 runs losing 9 wickets in 20 overs. Sawad conceded 24 runs off his 4 over spell.
Nizakat Khan top scored with 32 runs off 27 balls, Asif Khan remained unbeaten at 17 runs. Waqas Barkat scored 15 runs while Jamie Atkinson added 14 runs.
Shakti Gauchan and Sanjam Regmi took two wickets each for winning side.
Paras Khadka was later adjudged as the man of the match.
On the other matches of group A, Afghanistan defeated P.N.G by 6 wickets, Denmark defeated Bermuda by 7 wickets and Netherlands defeated Canada by 42 runs.
While in group B, Namibia defeated Ireland by 4 runs, Italy defeated Oman by 9 wickets, Uganda beat U.S.A. by 4 wickets and Scotland beat Kenya by 14 runs.
Nepal will play Denmark on Wednesday at 3.45 PM Nepali Time at Global Cricket Academy Dubai.
