April 16, 2024
KATHMANDU – Nepal progressed into the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s T20 Premier Cup after they defeated Hong Kong by eight wickets to register their third victory in as many matches in a rain-affected day in Al Amerat, Oman on Monday.
Chasing a small 115, the Rhinos overhauled the target in just 12.2 overs, with the win ensuring they finish the Group A at least in the second position. They have six points from three matches and have a match in hand—four ahead of second-placed Saudi Arabia who have two games in hand.
Nepal responded to their chase with a swift and dominant attack, with openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh leading the charge, scoring 70 runs for the first wicket.
Bhurtel fell to Yasim Murtaza in the sixth over after scoring 32 runs off 19 balls, and Sheikh departed in the next over— caught and bowled by Eshan Khan—after completing a solid 18-ball 40, laying the foundation for victory.
Skipper Rohit Paudel then made an unbeaten 25 off 20 balls and Sundeep Jora contributed 19 not out off 17 balls to steer Nepal to 117-2.
The match was reduced to 18-over per side after rain delayed the toss at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground.
After the game resumed, Nepal captain Paudel won the toss and invited Hong Kong to bat first.
But Nizakat Khan’s side struggled from the start against a disciplined Nepal bowling, losing opener Martin Coetzee to Karan KC for eight in the third over and captain Nizakat for 12 in the sixth over.
Coetzee’s opening partner Anshuman Rath had shown some aggression hitting four fours and one six in his 26-ball 34 but Gulsan Jha ran him out with a stunning direct hit.
Lalit Rajbanshi did the further damage taking the prized wickets of Babar Hayat (6) and Aizaz Khan (7) to reduce Hong Kong to 76-6.
Abinash Bohara was also sharp on the field and wreaked more havoc taking out Yasim Murtaza (2), Nasrulla Rana (6) and Zeeshan Ali (14).
Dipendra Singh Airee—who on Saturday became the the third man to smash six sixes in an over in an international men’s T20 match—then took the ball in the 18th over and impressively dispatched Eshan (11) and Dhananjay Rao (0) in the successive balls to wrap up Hong Kong’s innings.
Nepal had defeated Malaysia by five wickets and Qatar by 32 runs in their previous group matches. They will now aim to finish the group stage unbeaten and at the summit when they meet Saudi Arabia in their last group fixture on Wednesday.
Paudel’s Rhinos are looking to head to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June on a high by qualifying for their second Asia Cup for a consecutive time.
Before travelling to the West Indies and the United States to mark their only second appearance at a World Cup—first since 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh—Nepal will host the West Indies A side in a five-match T20 series from April 27 to May 4.