Nepal rout Hong Kong as World T20 debutants clash

Nepal marked their arrival on the international cricket stage with a massive 80-run win over fellow newcomers Hong Kong in a preliminary group match at the World Twenty20 Sunday. Nepal hammered 149-8 after being sent into bat and then bowled Hong Kong out for just 69 in 17 overs in the day-night match at Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium. The memorable group A win was set up by skipper Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla, who put on 80 for the third wicket after Nepal were reduced to 36-2 in 5.1 overs. Khadka hit a 37-ball 41, while Malla made 48 off 41 balls with four boundaries and a six. Nepal lost four wickets off the last four deliveries of the innings -- two of them run out -- which denied them a bigger total. But even the 150-run target proved too stiff for Hong Kong after the inspirational Khadka had opener Irfan Ahmed caught behind with the first ball of the innings. Hong Kong suffered a dramatic middle order collapse, losing four wickets in eight balls at the same score of 58. The innings was wrecked by Nepal's two left-arm spinners, with Shakti Gauchan claiming three wickets for nine runs and Basant Regmi taking three for 14. Babar Hayat top-scored for Hong Kong with 20, but eight batsmen failed to reach double figures against the steady Nepalese attack. Nepal and Hong Kong are among six qualifiers -- the others being Ireland, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands -- who joined Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in the two-group preliminary league. The two group winners will then contest the Super-10 round with the top eight Test nations -- Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, England, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies -- from March 21. The final is on April 6 in Dhaka, according to a news agency.