Impressive Hong Kong knock over Nepal at ACC T20 Cup 2013

Another impressive display by Hong Kong has seen them comprehensively beat hosts Nepal by six wickets in the second match of the ACC Twenty20 Cup 2013 being played in Kathmandu. Hong Kong's victory was built around a superb bowling and fielding display which restricted the powerful Nepal batting line-up to 9-115 from their 20 overs and was finished off by a solid batting effort led once again by an explosive cameo from Irfan Ahmed at the top of the order.

At the start of the day's play, Nepal had elected to bat after winning the toss, in front of a large and parochial home crowd. They got off to a cautious start, with 16 runs coming off the first four overs of the game against Tanwir Afzal and Irfan Ahmed who once agin led Hong Kong's bowling attack. Afzal grabbed Hong Kong's first two wickets, trapping Subash Khakurel LBW for 6 and then having the dangerous Pradeep Airee caught behind for 21, leaving Nepal at 2-38 after 7 overs.

Nepal's skipper Paras Khadka joined the fray but he was soon back in the pavilion to the delight of the Hong Kong team, having been bowled by Nadeem Ahmed for 4. Gayendra Malla and Binod Bhandari then shared a partnership worth 24 runs off 28 balls but the budding stand was cut short by Aizaz Khan who induced an edge from Bhandari that was easily taken by Jamie Atkinson behind the stumps. Atkinson was in the action shortly afterwards as he swiftly stumped Sharad Vesawkar off the bowing of Karan Shah. Nadeem then grabbed his second wicket when Basanta Regmi was caught by Aizaz as Nepal slumped to 6-87 off 16 overs.

Nadeem was the pick of the bowlers on a pitch that was taking considerable turn and he claimed his third scalp when he bowled Manjeet Shrestha for 7. Gayendra Malla, who had held the Nepal batting together with a dogged 38 off 39 balls, eventually fell in the penultimate over of the innings, giving Aizaz Khan his second wicket. Irfan was tasked with bowling the final over and he delivered a beauty, with only one run being conceded while Shakti Gauchan was run out in the frantic finish.

For Hong Kong, Nadeem finished with 3-18 from his four overs, while Tanwir Afzal and Aizaz Khan claimed 2-21 and 2-23 from their respective four over spells.

Hong Kong were keen to get their innings off to another explosive start and Irfan Ahmed and Waqas Barkat obliged with a 41-run opening stand off just 22 balls. Irfan was again the aggressor, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes in a 16-ball cameo worth 30 runs. Irfan fell in the 4th over and he was joined in the pavilion sooner after by his skipper, Jamie Atkinson who failed to trouble the scorers before being bowled by spinner Shakti Gauchan. Nizakat Khan joined Waqas in the middle and together the pair shared in a match-winning stand worth 70-runs off 59 balls. Waqas fell with a handful of runs need for victory - his 39 runs having been scored off 37 balls, including 4 fours. Courtney Kruger fell for 0 and it was left to Babar Hayat to take Hong Kong over the finish line with the winning runs coming off the third ball of the 17th over. Nizakat Khan was the top-scorer for Hong Kong with a brilliant unbeaten 42 - his 33-ball innings containing 3 fours and 2 massive sixes.

Score Summary: Nepal 9-115 from 20 overs (Gyanendra Malla 38; Nadeem Ahmed 3-18) lost to Hong Kong 4-116 from 16.3 overs (Irfan Ahmed 30, Waqas Barkat 39, Nizakat Khan 42*) by 6 wkts [Full Scorecard]

Hong Kong's victory sets them up nicely atop Group A and in prime position to secure a semi-final berth. They now have a rest day, before facing Maldives and Singapore in the last two group matches of the competition.