KATHMANDU, April 15: Nepal secured their third straight win in the ACC Premier Cup 2024 by defeating Hong Kong by 8 wickets on Monday. With this triumph in Group A, Nepal's trip to the semi-finals is assured.
Chasing the target of 115 runs, Nepal reached the target while losing only 2 wickets in 12.2 overs. Opener Aasif Sheikh scored 40 runs off 18 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. Another opener Kushal Bhurtel scored 32 runs off 19 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Openers Bhurtel and Sheikh gave Nepal a brilliant start by adding 70 runs in 5.3 overs.
Rohit Poudel was not out for 25 runs with 3 fours off 20 balls. Sandeep Zora scored 19 runs in 17 balls with 1 four and 1 six. On the bowling side, Hong Kong's Ehsan Khan and Yasim Murtaza took one wicket each.
Nepal suffers 3-wicket defeat against Hong Kong in Asia Cup Qua...
Before that, Hong Kong, after losing the toss and being put to bat first at Al Amret Cricket Ground 1, were bowled out for 114 runs in 17.5 overs.
Captain Nizakat Khan scored 34 runs off 26 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. None of the other batters could perform well.
Opener Martin Kotji scored 8runs, Nizakat Khan 12 runs, Babar Hayat 6 runs, Aziz Khan 7 runs, Yasim Murtaza 2 runs, Nasrullah Rana 6 runs, Zeeshan Ali 14 runs and Ehsan Khan were dismissed for 11 runs.
Nepal's fast bowler Abhinash Bohra took 3 wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs. Lalit Rajbanshi took 2 wickets in 4 overs with 1 maiden at the expense of 14 runs. Dipendra Singh Airee took 2 wickets and Karan KC took 1 wicket.
Nepal defeated Malaysia by five wickets in the first match and Qatar by 32 runs in the second match.
