Nepal started the ICC World T20 Qualifiers campaign with a 28-run win over Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Electing to bat first at the ICC Global Cricket Academy Ground,Dubai,Nepalput up 130/6 in 20 overs as Captain Paras Khadka scored 68 runs off 62 balls. Later, Chandra Saud made his national team debut memorable taking four wickets as Hong Kong managed only 102 runs in 20 overs losing nine wickets.
Nepal lost opener Pradeep Airee (naught) in the third ball of the innings and Sharad Vesawkar (2 runs) was also bowled by Munir Dar. Opener Paresh Lohani returned to pavilion when team was languishing at 38 runs.
Skipper Khadka and his deputy Gyanendra Malla put up 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Malla, who got the wicket-keeping duty in the national team for the first time, scored 26 runs of 24 balls. He hit two boundaries and a six. Mehboob Alam added 13 runs. Bashant Regmi (2 runs) and Prithu Baskota (0) remain unbeaten at the crease.
Man of the match Paras Khadka played a confident innings and hit seven boundaries. He was stumped by Waqas Barkat off Munir Dar.
Dar was the pick of theHong Kongbowlers as he took three wickets.
Paras Khadka congratulated by the Nepalese coach Pubudu Dassanayake. Photo by ICC
Chasing the 131-run target on the slow wicket of the UAE, Hong Kong were stunned by Nepali pacer Chandra Saud.
Saud removed Irfan Ahmed, who has a reputation of big hitter, from the crease in the second ball of the innings. Captain Khadka introduced spinner Shakti Gauchan in the second over and he removed James Atkinson (14 runs). Then, Saud removed Munir Dar (duck), opener Babar Hayat (2 runs) and Courtney Kruger (2 runs) to keepHong Kongunder pressure. After the fine spell of Saud and Gauchan,Hong Kongwas at 28/5 in 4.5 overs.
Nizakat Khan scored 32 runs of 27 balls and Waqas Barkat added 15 runs off 15 balls. Sanjam Regmi took the wicket of Khan while Gauchan took the wicket of Barkat. Regmi claimed the wicket of Roy Lamsam (5 runs) also. Aizaz Khan (2 runs) was run out.
Hong Kong’s No 11 batsman Asif Khan remained unbeaten with 17 runs but it was unattainable target forHong Kong.
Saud finished his bowling quota with a figure of 4-0-24-4 while Gauchan’s bowling figure was 4-1-11-2. Sanjam Regmi bowled four overs and gave 18 runs to take two wickets.
“It was slow wicket. Our top order batsmen could not perform well. However, Gyanendra (Malla) and I stayed on the crease,” said Captain Khadka to Cricket.com.np on our phone call. “Chandra (Saud) bowled exceptionally well and Hong Kong never got chance to build up their innings,” he added.
Nepal will take on Denmark on Wednesday.