KATHMANDU, March 12: Nepal has defeated Hong Kong by five wickets at the last match of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers under Group B held at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Monday.
Chasing the 154-run target set for Nepal by Hong Kong, Nepal achieved the target in 40.4 overs, losing just five wickets.
Nepal’s Rohit Paudel smashed 48 runs including four fours off 86 deliveries, Sompal Kami made 37 runs including five fours off 40 balls while Anil Sah contributed 26 balls including five fours off 36 balls.
Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient, will shine again
In reply, Aizaz Khan and Ehsan Khan took two wickets each of Hongn Kong conceding 40 and 34 runs respectively and Tanwir Afzal grabbed 1 wicket at the cost of seven runs in eight overs.
Earlier, sent in to field first after losing the toss, Nepal took timely wickets to limit Hong Kiong to paltlry 153 runs in 48.2 overs.
Nepal has thereby received 154 runs as target, an achievable number for Nepali team.
Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets, Basanta Regmi and Karan KC took two each while Sompal Kami and Lalit Raj Banshi took one wicket each to curb Hong Kong to 153 runs.
Nizakat Khan scored 47 runs, the highest in the Hong Kong innings.
