ACC Premier Cup: Nepal advance to semi-finals

KATHMANDU: Nepal entered the semi-finals of ACC Men’s Premier Cup T20-2024 defeating Hong Kong by eight wickets on Monday.

Nepal, playing from Group ‘A’ in the group match, entered the semi-finals ahead of one match.  They collected six points to be at the topmost position of the Group. Nepal won the opening match against Malaysia by five wickets and defeated Qatar by 32 runs in the second match.

In today’s match held at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, Nepal, who were chasing a 115-run target set by Hong Kong, achieved the target in 12.2 overs at the loss of two wickets.

Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh was the top scorer for the team, scoring 40 of 18 balls with three sixes and three boundaries. Similarly, Kushal Bhurtel hit 19 off 19 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Captain Rohit Paudel scored unbeaten 25 off 20 balls including three boundaries while Sundeep Jora scored unbeaten 19 of 17 balls including one boundary and one six.

Ehsan Khan and Yasim Murtaza of Hong Kong took one wicket each.

Hong Kong were invited to bat first after losing the toss and completed the first innings with 114 in 17.5 overs at the loss of all wickets.

For the team, Anshuman Rath scored highest 34 runs off 26 balls including four boundaries and one six.

Zeeshan Ali scored 14 and captain Nizakat Khan 12 followed by 11 from Ehsan Khan. Other batsmen failed to score in double digits.

Abhinash Bohora took three wickets followed by two each from Lalit Rajbanshi and Dipendra Singh Airee for Nepal. Karan KC dismissed one batsman.

Nepal will play against Saudi Arabia for the last match of the group on April 17.