Nepal start Hong Kong Quadrangular T20I series with win

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Nepal routed Qatar by eight wickets to open their campaign with a win in the Quadrangular T20 International Series, which began in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Nepal chased down Qatar's target of 152 runs in just 17 overs, losing only two wickets. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh provided a fiery start with their aggressive batting. They stitched an 80-run stand within the first five overs.

Kushal was the first wicket to fall on the fourth ball of the sixth over. He smashed 38 runs off 19 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and three sixes. Aasif departed on the final ball of the eighth over, scoring 31 runs off 21 deliveries, including four sixes. Both openers became casualties of Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman's bowling. Rehman bowled out Kushal and had Aasif caught by Nagarajan.

Captain Rohit Paudel and Basir Ahmed steadied the innings after the openers were dismissed. They carried Nepal from 92/2 to 154 without further loss, ensuring a comfortable win. Rohit remained unbeaten on 27 runs off 29 balls, hitting two fours and one six. Basir also stayed not out, contributing 30 runs off 33 balls with two boundaries.

Earlier, Qatar, after put on to bat first at Mong Kok, posted 151/5 in their 20 overs. Captain Ikramullah Khan was their standout performer, scoring a solid 54 runs. He reached his half-century in 52 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, before being bowled by debutant Nandan Yadav in the 18th over.

Nepal's decision to bowl first proved effective as Sompal Kami dismissed opener Rifayi Theruvath for 6 runs in the first ball of the second over. Karan KC struck in the fifth over, removing opener Arumugaganesh Nagarajan, who scored 13 runs off 12 balls, including one boundary and one six.

With the scoreboard reading 26/2, Captain Ikramullah and Shahzaib Jamil steadied Qatar's innings with a 47-run partnership. However, Lalit Rajbanshi ended the stand by dismissing Jamil, who blasted four sixes in his brisk knock of 31 runs off 21 balls. Jamil was caught and bowled by Lalit on the final ball of the 11th over. Shortly after, Jassim Khan followed suit, scoring four runs off three balls before being caught off Gulshan Jha's delivery.

For the fifth wicket, Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman and Captain Ikramullah stitched a 41-run stand. Debutant Nandan then broke the partnership by bowling out Ikramullah in the 18th over. Mujeeb and Mohammed Irshad pushed Qatar past the 150-run mark with their unbeaten knocks. Mujeeb scored 20 runs off 19 balls with one boundary, while Irshad added 18 runs off seven balls, smashing one four and two sixes.

Nepal's bowling unit impressed, with Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, and Gulshan Jha each claiming a wicket.

Nepal will next face Kuwait tomorrow. The tournament features Nepal, Kuwait, Qatar, and Hong Kong.