Paras Khadka’s patient knock helped Nepal eye victory against Hong Kong as it took a lead of 269 runs going into the last day of the three-day ACC Premier League match at the TU Cricket Ground.
Paras Khadka on his way to 69 not out.
Paras scored 69 not out as Nepal ended the day on 188/6 in its second innings. Nepal had declared on 217/8 in the first innings and bowled out Hong Kong for 136 runs this morning to take an 81-run first innings lead. Paras and Binod Das, who is on 20, were at the crease when the play was stopped. Nepal has so far earned 12.5 bonus points while Hong Kong have 8.5.
“We have 105 overs tomorrow, so I would be looking at 30-odd more runs tomorrow,†coach Roy Dias said hinting that Nepal would resume batting on the last day. “Overall, it’s still an open game and I don’t want to take chances.â€Â
However the day wasn’t easy for the host as it struggled to bowl out the visitors in the morning. Hong Kong, which started from 74/7, added 60 more runs and played 24.2 overs for the last three wickets.
It wasn’t easy to get wickets of Hong Kong tailenders.
Najeeb Amar and Afzaal Haider resumed the play and went on for 8.4 overs before Afzaal sky-rocketed a Sanjam Regmi delivery to find captain Binod Das. Najeeb Amar and Ilyas Gull continued frustrating Nepal playing patiently.
Amar, who top-scored with 37 including six boundaries, lost his concentration against Basant Regmi before Binod Das trapped last man Nadeem Ahmed lbw. It was Binod’s 50th wicket in the multi-day format matches. Gull remained unbeaten on 13.
Nepal started very slow with openers Paresh Lohani and Mahesh Chhetri finding it difficult to score runs. When Paresh was out lbw for not offering a shot against Nadeem Ahmed, the scoreboard read 25 from 13.4 overs. Paresh departure brought in Mehboob Alam, who aggressive innings of 29 runs off 27 balls, somewhat accelerated the innings.
Mehboob hit two sixes – in an over bowled by Nadeem Ahmed and put him out of the attack but was blanked by his brother Irfan Ahmed. Sarad and Mahesh played like as if they were practicing defensive shot and when Mahesh was trapped lbw by Amar, the couple had added 10 runs off 57 balls.
Sarad too could not repeat Friday’s batting performance as he was stumped off Nadeem Ahmed while striding long for a defensive shot. Gyanendra Malla too failed scoring only three runs as Nepal went down to 81/5.
Basant Regmi defends a delivery during his 27-run partnership with Paras.
It was vice-captain Paras, who came to rescue. With Basant Regmi, he stabilized the innings and got Nepal out of possible trouble. When Basant was bowled by Nadeem Ahmed for 15, he had partnered Paras for 57 runs. Captain Binod too batted with responsibility and with his deputy had already added 50 runs in their unbeaten partnership. Paras reached his first half-century in 112 balls with four boundaries.
Paras and Binod Das all smiling at the end of the day.
“I’m impressed with Paras’ knock,†Dias said adding that the vice-captain and captain played with the responsibility he would like to see in other top-order batsmen.