ACC Emerging Teams Cup: Nepal defeats Hong Kong by seven wickets

KATHMANDU, March 30: Nepal defeated Hong Kong by seven wickets to register a consolation victory in the ongoing ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Bangladesh on Thursday.

Nepal, playing its last match at the Siekh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox Bazar, achieved the target of 215 runs- set by Bangladesh- in 42.2 overs at the loss of three wickets.

Skipper Gyanendra Malla topscored 70 runs of 82 balls hitting 11 fours. Dipendra Singh Airee (not out) and Sharad Veswakar (not out) shared 105 runs partnership. Airee scored 60 runs off 83 balls including one six and five fours while Bheshwakar scored 55 runs of 51 balls hitting three sixes and three fours. Dilip Nath scored 8 runs off 12 balls.

Earlier invited to bat first after losing toss, Hong Kong posted a target of 215 runs in 50 overs for Nepal.

Opener Cameron McAuslan and Anshy Rath shared 94 runs partnership. Rath high scored 51 runs off 64 balls including seven fours while McAuslan 43 off 69 balls including five fours. Waqas Khan contributed 30 runs for Hong Kong.

Abhinash Karna took three wickets. Gyanendra Malla, Bhuvan Karki and Sushan Bhari claimed two wickets each while Sandip Lamichhane took one.

Having already lost two matches earlier to Pakistan and Bangladesh, Nepal has been eliminated from group-stage match.

Likewise, Hong Kong has crashed out from the match.