Nepal started the T20 Cricket World Cup with 80 run victory over Hong Kong.

Hong Kong won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first at Chittagong Stadium. Nepal openers scored 36 runs. Sagar Pun contributed 13 runs  and SP Khakurel 22 runs. That brought the duo of Nepal Captain Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla. Having been 60 for 2 at halfway, Khadka and Malla accelerated the run scoring. They had added a further 56 in 37 balls before Khadka was eventually caught in the deep, off Najeeb.

Malla continued to play steadily and at the start of the final over crashed a six over long-on – the only one of the match – to take him to within sight of fifty. But two balls later, on 48, he top-edged a pull back to the bowler, Haseeb, and Nepal managed total 149 runs.

Hong Kong crumbled in pursuit of 150, dismissed with three overs left unbowled as only three batsmen made double figures. Having worked hard to get back into the match after an 80-run stand between Khadka and Malla, Hong Kong slipped quickly back into the red by losing two wickets in the first two overs. Babar Hayat and Waqas Barkat got through the Powerplay before Shakti Gauchan claimed the first of his three wickets and when Mark Chapman was bowled by Basant Regmi – the first of two in two balls for Nepal’s slow left-armer – it precipitated a calamitous collapse.

Gauchan struck twice in the next over, hitting the stumps for the fourth time in a row, and charged off with his arm pointing to the sky in celebration. This was a night on which Nepal’s passion for cricket was given rich reward.

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It is the first time in five years that an Associate nation has won a game at the World T20 Cricket. Nepal has made a history.

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